While Zamalek Club football player Omar Gaber refused to participate the match against ENPPI when 19 people were killed in the Air Defense Stadium incident, the chairman of the Zamalek Club faulted Gaber and defended the rest of the team who agreed to play the match against the wish of the fans.
Although Gaber and the chairman did not directly confront each other, they did so in separate interviews with media host Wael al-Ibrashi on the Dream 2 satellite channel.
When Gaber was asked if the players were aware that some of the Ultras White Knights were killed while trying to enter the stadium, he said that they were aware because people gathered around their bus and shouted at them not to play the match because some of the White Knights fans were killed by police. He also said they showed them videos of it on their mobile phones.
When the chairman was asked the same question, he said nobody knew of it except after the match.
When Gaber was asked why he refused to play the match, he said because he was moved by the incident and because he was also very tired.
To this, the chairman said that Gaber did not play because he had stomach pain from the tear gas and not for solidarity with the victims.
When the chairman was asked if Gaber would continue to play for the Zamalek Club, he said that the Football Association will expel him and that he will be severely punished because he incited the fans.
To this, Gaber said that he already decided to leave the team because he could no longer bear any more pressure. He asked the Board of Directors to terminate his contract and promised to return the check he had received.
Commenting on Gaber refusing to play the match, the chairman said he would not allow another Abu Treika in the club, pointing to players that stand by the fans against their teams.
To this, Gaber said he wished he could be like Abu Treika who is loved by the fans, regardless of his political inclinations.
When Gaber was asked if the team management knew of the incident, he said Ismail Youssef, the manager responsible for the football department of the club, told him they would not play the match.
To this, Youssef said it was because the players had inhaled too much tear gas, and the chairman said Gaber was lying.
