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Marwan Serry withdraws from Dagenham ownership and terminates investment project

Marwan Serry withdraws from ownership at Dagenham & Redbridge and terminates his investment project over Salma Mashhour’s dismissal.

On April the 18th, 2025, Egyptian YouTuber Marwan Serry announced his withdrawal from the ownership group of Dagenham & Redbridge FC and terminated his investment project with the National League club, following the dismissal of Salma Mashhour from her role as Director of Development & Engagement.

Mashhour was sacked just three days after her appointment on April 14, 2025, reportedly due to backlash over her past social media posts expressing support for Palestine and condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. These posts, including one from October 2023, were criticised by some fans and a pro-Israel blogger, who accused her of supporting Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK.

Dagenham & Redbridge in the Premier League?! | Marwan Serry’s ambitions explained

Serry, who had joined the club’s ownership group alongside Club Underdog and introduced Mashhour as part of a strategy to expand the club’s digital reach and connect with Arabic-speaking audiences, cited racism and discriminatory behaviour as key reasons for his withdrawal.

In a statement, he said, “I officially announce my complete withdrawal from the ownership of Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club and the cancellation of the investment project in the club. We will not compromise our principles.”

He also indicated that legal action is underway to address Mashhour’s dismissal, claiming she was unfairly targeted.

The controversy sparked significant debate. Some fans and online campaigns, including a Change.org petition, demanded Mashhour’s removal, alleging her posts justified terrorism and clashed with the club’s values of diversity.

Others, particularly in Arab and pro-Palestine communities, criticised the club’s decision as a reaction to pressure from a vocal minority and praised Serry for standing by Mashhour.

Serry further urged fans to boycott the club’s upcoming match and offered to refund ticket costs personally.

Dagenham & Redbridge FC, issued a brief statement confirming Mashhour’s removal “effective immediately” but provided no detailed explanation.

The club emphasised its commitment to being a multifaith, multicultural organisation and stated it does not tolerate racism, discrimination, or support for terrorism.

The situation has reignited calls for greater oversight in football governance, with local MP Margaret Mullane seeking an urgent meeting with the club’s management to address the issue.

The club said in a brief statement on Saturday: “Dagenham & Redbridge FC has removed Salma Mashhour from the position of Director of Development & Engagement, effective immediately.”

Twitter users reacted as Marwan Serry withdraws from ownership at Dagenham and terminates his investment project…

@notepaddy: Thank you for opening up about this and making the correct, albeit difficult, decision. Better luck in your next venture.

@HowesJoshu83358: In the matter of 3 days you have broke this club. Constant abuse from your fans and your ambitions made this club a laughing stock. You can call us racist or whatever, but look at your fans comments and maybe if you controlled them, you would have not been in this situation

@fattomdaley: Even by non-league standards, this story is unbelievable 😂😂 Look at the state of these quotes 😂

@StazZaJC: It wasn’t just the Daggers fans who opposed you, it was the entire footballing community. Stay out of our beautiful game without good intentions or backing.

@bmwsmiler1: Get in. Absolutely brilliant news. Not wanted in the first place and then the way the Dagenham fans were treated by his followers was quite frankly disgusting. This is Dagenham and Redbridge football club. It is not your toy and that is why you weren’t welcome

@ianmckee58: The fact Dagenham have turned their comments off because of a plethora of abuse from people who have no idea who they are or where they are, because of some bellend social media influencer, shows how poorly thought out that whole this was

@SamuelCol1115: Wasnt the time nor the place, even if you look at it from a non political standpoint. Don’t let the door hit u on the way out

@pigeonman562: Dagenham and Redbridge vs the Middle East is not something I expected to see 🤣

@foreverayellow: what a messed up week lol they came in, expressed ambitions to take the club (on verge of relegation to national league south) to the premier league, want to be big with people in the middle east, then social media comments/posts/photos lead to backlash and the sacking and withdrawal in just the space of a few days.

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