The Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports has closely followed reports regarding attempts by some foreign entities to illegally recruit and naturalize Egyptian players.
This comes as part of the state’s commitment to protecting its youth and athletes from any attempts at exploitation, a statement from the ministry said.
Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy ordered that the issue be followed up at the highest level, in coordination with all local and international institutions.
The ministry added that several official steps have been taken, including an official letter from the African Wrestling Confederation to the International Wrestling Federation and the relevant national federations, to halt any illegal naturalization of Egyptian players.
These practices have sparked widespread criticism within Egyptian and African sports circles, as they represent a blatant violation of Olympic values and contravene laws regulating the movement of athletes between countries.
The ministry further added that this is a form of illegal immigration and human trafficking, exploiting the social circumstances of some young athletes.
The official steps included affirming respect for the state’s sovereignty and its right to protect its athletes who represent Egypt in international forums.
The ministry also placed the issue on the agenda for discussion at the International Wrestling Federation to ensure deterrent measures are taken against any entity or individual proven to be involved in fraud or recruitment outside the legal framework.
The ministry affirmed that the state will firmly address any attempts to infringe upon the rights of its youth or tamper with their national affiliation, placing the protection of its children at the forefront of its priorities.
It also called on all local and international sports federations to fully cooperate to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
