Egyptian football legend Aboutrika accused of funding 'terror group'

Former Egypt and Al Ahly football star Mohamed Aboutrika is facing terror funding charges, officials in the North African country said on Sunday.

The report comes after authorities seized his share certificates in a travel company in May 2015.

The documents were seized over accusations it had funded the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement, which has been outlawed as a “terrorist” organisation since December 2013.

The former footballer’s assets were subsequently frozen.

“We will begin investigating the files of those referred by the committee,” an official at the prosecution is reported as saying.

Aboutrika has filed an appeal, and is due for review on April 5.

He has also denied any wrongdoing.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime has cracked down on members and supporters of the Brotherhood since July 2013, when then army chief Sisi ousted Mohamed Morsi, the country’s first freely elected leader.

Aboutrika publicly endorsed Morsi’s 2012 presidential bid.