The three-times African player of the year Mohamed Aboutrika has denied that the tourism company he co-owns in Egypt is linked to the banned Islamist movement the Muslim Brotherhood.
Aboutrika, who retired from football in December 2013, had assets seized by the Egyptian government last week after it was alleged he had helped fund the group.
In an interview with the al-Ahram newspaper on Thursday, the 36-year-old said that the company’s co-owner who was allegedly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood had left last year.
“I would also like to make it clear that the case so far has not gone beyond the investigations phase,” Aboutrika said. “Even the head of the [investigating] committee Ezzat Khamis made media statements saying there are no official charges yet.”
Anas Mohamed Omar El-Kady was accused of committing hostile acts against the state, while the company’s funds were allegedly used to finance terrorist attacks. But Aboutrika claimed that El-Kady was no longer involved and the company had changed names in 2013.
Regarded as the greatest player in Egypt’s history having won the Confederation of African Football’s player of the year award in 2008, 2009 and 2013, Aboutrika is no stranger to politics, having revealed a T-shirt with the message “Sympathise with Gaza” during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
He publicly supported the Brotherhood member Mohamed Morsi in the 2012 presidential elections but has since decided to stop any political comments.