CAIRO — Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah faces a growing legal challenge in his home country after the New Cairo Court of First Instance ordered him to appear in person regarding a financial dispute with his former lawyer.
The court order stems from a civil lawsuit filed in September 2025 by Amr Farag Allah Morsi Abdel Tawab, an attorney who claims the high-profile winger owes him unpaid fees for legal, administrative, and advisory services provided over several years. Under the judicial order, Salah is required to attend a mandatory court hearing in Cairo on 6 September.
The dispute centres on professional services the lawyer alleges he performed managing legal documentation, official paperwork, and various personal affairs on behalf of the international player. According to official court filings, the legal relationship was established through a general power of attorney granted by Salah in 2012, early in his professional career. That authorisation remained valid until August 2025, when it was formally revoked. Beyond demanding the full settlement of alleged back fees, the attorney is seeking additional financial compensation for emotional and pecuniary distress suffered during the prolonged period of non-payment.
Judicial Mandate and Legal Implications
Salah has firmly denied the attorney’s allegations, rejecting both the scope of work described in the petition and the assertion that any payments remain outstanding. In response to his formal written denial, the court instructed the forward to appear in person and deliver a solemn oath verifying the accuracy of his defense statements under Egyptian civil procedure.
Under local statutory principles, if Salah fails to attend the scheduled session or refuses to take the oath without presenting a legally valid justification, he will be officially classified as having refused the oath. Such a refusal carries significant legal weight, as Egyptian courts treat it as a tacit admission of the claimant’s allegations. This outcome could trigger an immediate summary judgment against the footballer, compelling compliance with the monetary claims. The presiding judge has suspended the final ruling pending the outcome of the scheduled September hearing.
Scheduling Conflict Threatens Turkish League Campaign
The court order comes at a particularly inconvenient moment for the veteran forward, who recently concluded his celebrated tenure with English Premier League club Liverpool to embark on a new chapter with Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor.
Salah is expected to make his highly anticipated official debut for Trabzonspor on 15 August against Kasımpaşa. However, the scheduled court date of 6 September coincides directly with Trabzonspor’s upcoming league fixture against Gençlerbirliği, creating a logistical and competitive conflict between his playing commitments in Turkey and his mandatory legal obligations in Cairo.
As the hearing date approaches, legal representatives for the Egyptian captain will need to determine whether a temporary dispensation can be requested from the court or if the player must travel to Cairo in person to resolve the dispute and avoid an adverse default ruling.
