Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Gohar Nabiel ordered the immediate suspension of table tennis coach Mohamed Momtaz and launched an urgent investigation following video footage that allegedly showed him striking 10-year-old player Zeina Farouk during the World Hopes Week for players under 12 in Sheffield, England.
Ministry Orders Disciplinary Measures Against Momtaz
The Ministry of Youth and Sports directed the Egyptian Olympic Committee and the Egyptian Table Tennis Federation to enforce strict disciplinary measures against Momtaz, according to an official ministry statement. Officials must investigate the incident under existing regulations and apply maximum penalties to prevent future occurrences.
Minister Nabiel also instructed the Egyptian Olympic Committee to issue broader warnings to all national sports federations. Administrators and technical staff must strictly adhere to sportsmanship rules and regulations during competitions and training.
Mother Denies the Allegation and Defends Coach
Despite the official intervention, the player’s mother rejected the accusation that her daughter was slapped. In a video published on social media, she stated that the coach merely moved his hand in the air without touching the child’s face.
The mother described Momtaz as a competent and well-mannered trainer who has coached her daughter since she was five years old. She noted that Zeina did not cry or show distress after the incident and argued that the coach’s arrest caused the child to lose a match because she had no one to support her.
Accusations of Internal Federation Conflict
The player’s mother claimed that the public dissemination of the video stems from a personal vendetta within the Egyptian table tennis community. She alleged that a former federation official inflated the incident to settle internal scores.
She criticized the English police for detaining Momtaz following the incident, stating that the detention left the 10-year-old athlete without a proper adult guardian during the competition.
Investigation Details
| Authority | Assigned Action |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Youth and Sports | Ordered immediate suspension and urgent investigation. |
| Egyptian Olympic Committee | Tasked with enforcing penalties and issuing federation-wide warnings. |
| Egyptian Table Tennis Federation | Required to report investigation findings back to the ministry. |
The Egyptian Table Tennis Federation is required to submit its formal findings to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
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