The feud between Egyptian counselor Mortada Mansour, former president of Zamalek Club, and journalist Amr Adib has flared up again, amid rising tensions between the two sides.

The Agouza District Public Prosecution in Cairo has summoned Amr Adib to record his statement regarding complaints filed against him by Mortada Mansour, which accuse him of “insult, defamation and damaging reputation,” according to judicial sources.

"A clear overstep"

The investigations include Mansour’s accusations that the Egyptian broadcaster insulted him during one of his program episodes and used phrases Mansour considered a clear overstep that harmed his personal reputation.

This escalation comes after years of disputes between the two, which boiled over when Adib alleged Mansour’s involvement in a series of complaints that led to the seizure of land that had been allocated for building a new Zamalek branch in 6th of October City—an action that, he said, directly affected the club’s budget and expansion plans.

Widespread controversy

The Egyptian journalist sparked wide controversy with remarks on his program “Al-Hekaya” in which he said of Mortada Mansour: “an idea that must die,” a phrase that provoked strong reactions across social media and the press.