Egyptian authorities have rejected an appeal by football giant Mohammad Abu Trika against seizing his assets over alleged links to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
Head of a governmental commission, Ezzat Khamis, said on Tuesday that Abu Trika’s petition was turned down for lacking substantial evidence against confiscation.
The case is connected to a tourism company co-owned by Abu Trika which authorities say was involved in funding acts of violence by the Muslim Brotherhood.
“Abu Trika did not attach to his petition any documents refuting the accusations raised against the company,” Khamis said in remarks carried by semi-official newspaper Al Ahram.
The official added that the ex-footballer has the right to go to court to appeal against the decision or lodge a second petition with the commission set up by the government to trail the money of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Authorities have confiscated several businesses and private schools with suspected links to the Islamist group since Egypt designated the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation in late 2013.
Commenting on the rejection of his appeal, Abu Trika vowed to pursue legal challenge to unfreeze his money.
“The last thing I’ve bought with my money is a new grave. I’ll continue legal measures,” he wrote on his Twitter account without elaborating.
Local media quoted unnamed sources close to the ex-player as saying he plans to go to court to appeal against the seizure.
The move against Abu Trika, affectionately nicknamed the “Prince of Hearts” and the “Saint”, has sharply polarised Egypt. His devotees denounced the step, launching an online campaign in his support titled “Abu Treika is a Red Line”. Brotherhood opponents, meanwhile, defended the move against Abu Treika, saying that law should be applied to everyone, regardless of their fame.
Abu Trika, now aged 36, quit footballing in 2013 after playing for the top Cairo club Al Ahly and Egypt’s national team. He played a major role in Egypt’s win of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 and 2008.
During his career, Abu Trika proved to be one of Egypt’s greatest footballers, named Africa’s Best Player four times.
Since his retirement, he has often travelled outside Egypt to attend football events. He is also popular for his modesty.
Abu Treika repeatedly voiced his backing to president Mohammad Mursi of the Brotherhood whom the army deposed in 2013 after enormous street protests against his year-long rule.
However, Abu Trika has not said clearly he is a member of the Islamist group.
Thousands of the Brotherhood’s followers have been rounded up since its removal from power in the toughest clampdown on the 87-year-old group.
