The retired Egyptian footballer Mohamed Aboutrika – regarded as one of the best in the nation’s history – has lost a final appeal to have his name removed from a terror watchlist.
Known not just for his outstanding talent on the field, Aboutrika was also politically outspoken – he played a part in the growing political unrest that finally led to the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
But when Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, was deposed and his movement the Muslim Brotherhood outlawed, Aboutrika was accused of links to the group.
Some of his assets were seized and he was placed on a terror watchlist in 2017.
He moved to Qatar where he has built a highly successful new career as a football commentator.
Last month, he sat in the stands while his former club Al Ahly was playing in Doha – the fact that he shook hands with two of the players re-ignited controversy – leading to their suspension for breaching coronavirus restrictions.
