Former Egyptian international and four-time African footballer of the year, Mohammed Aboutrika, has been added to the terror list by the Egyptian government in its latest clampdown on the Muslim brotherhood and its supporters. The former Egyptian playmaker was alleged to be a major sponsor of the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt.

The Muslim brotherhood, considered a terrorist organisation in Egypt, produced the country’s first democratically elected president after the Muslim brotherhood deposed Hosni Mubarak during the 2011 Arab spring. In the election that followed in 2013, Mohamed Morsi emerged the first president, but he only lasted a year before the army deposed him after a civil uprising against the Brotherhood. The army had since launched a clampdown on the leaders of the organisation, killing scores, while having as many others imprisoned. In 2015, Mohammed Morsi alongside top leaders of the organisation were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Mohammed Aboutrika came into the political scene in 2013, publicly campaigning for the deposed president Mohammed Morsi. He had since been suspected and alleged of being one of the major sponsors of the organisation.

In 2015, Egyptian authorities seized a number of assets belonging to Aboutrika while subjecting him to further investigations to prove or disprove his alleged sponsorship of the Muslim brotherhood. He has now been added to the Egyptian terror list. According to the anti-terror law passed by President Abdel Fatal Sisi in 2015, anyone on the terror list is subject to a travel ban with his or her assets and passports seized or frozen. Aboutrika, denying the allegations, has vowed to stay in Egypt, with his lawyer indicating a willingness to appeal a decision he described as unlawful.

Aboutrika is the first high profile player and the latest on the list of footballers linked to terrorism. Kurdish Footballer Deniz Naki was in October 2016 indicted by a Turkish court for sharing terrorist propaganda on social media. An ex-Portsmouth of England youth player, Yann Nsaku was arrested in 2012 in France for allegedly planning an anti-Semitic terrorist attack. In 2015, five Portuguese-born youngsters were reported to have left the United Kingdom to join ISIS in England.

Aboutrika who was one of Egypt’s finest players in his generation scored 38 goals in 100 appearances for the Pharaohs of Egypt, winning three African Cup of Nations titles. The goal poacher also scored 106 goals in 106 appearances for Tersana and Al Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League. He holds the record appearance at the FIFA club world, having appeared at the elite competition ten times. Aboutrika has been voted Africa’s Best Player of the Year (Based in Africa) four times. He was voted the BBC African footballer of the year in 2008.

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