Dagenham & Redbridge fans have spoken out after a five-day ownership fiasco left some supporters receiving death threats.
On 14 April, the National League side announced Egyptian YouTuber and entrepreneur Marwan Serry had joined the club’s ownership group alongside American firm, Club Underdog, with the east London outfit becoming an overnight sensation in Arab-speaking world.
But it all came crashing down just five days later when Serry quit the club after newly-appointed director of development and engagement Salma Mashhour was dismissed when a now-deleted Instagram post which appeared to justify the 7 October attacks on Israel by Hamas resurfaced.
Russell, who attends Dagenham & Redbridge matches with his son, said: “Hundreds of thousands of followers swarmed our pages, death and rape threats aimed at us and our families.
“At the fans’ forum, many fans said they didn’t feel comfortable supporting a club whose owner seemed to back a terror group.
“We’re a working-class fanbase, people choosing to spend what little spare cash they have at a local club.
“It’s an attack on us, on ordinary fans, on our community and our club.”
Before severing ties with the club, Serry appeared on Sky Sports to set out his vision for the Daggers and asserted ambitions to reach the Premier League, backed by the support of the Arab world.
The Egyptian, who runs the Erza3 YouTube channel and boasts over five million followers across social media, linked his entry into the club’s ownership to a child playing video game FIFA and claimed to be in talks with various sponsors from the Arab world eager to invest in the non-League outfit.
The club’s social media pages have grown rapidly over the past weeks, attracting almost half a million new followers across platforms, although many have since unfollowed the pages in protest.
Mashhour’s dismissal under 72 hours in the role was announced in a statement put out by the club on social media, leading to furious reactions from many of the club’s new Middle Eastern followers and even the leader of the Workers Party of Britain, George Galloway, weighing in.
Some pro-Palestinian voices have called on the public to boycott the club, who have an average home attendance of around 1,700.
Former Green Party candidate for Ilford South Syed Siddiqi said: “I’m appalled that Dagenham & Redbridge FC has removed Salma Mashhour as a director over her anti-Zionist, pro-Palestine stance – a view shared by many in our community.
“It’s time to boycott clubs that support genocide.”
Protesters draped in Palestinian flags turned up at the club’s Victoria Road stadium on 20 April, with the support of the Seeds of Gaza group and the Redbridge Palestine Solidarity Network.
Mashhour claimed that she learned of her sacking from the statement posted on social media.
Shortly after the club released the statement, Serry announced his total withdrawal from any involvement with the club in a video posted in Arabic on X, which has received over four million views.
In the video, Serry asserted his belief the decision taken by the club was fuelled by racism from a minority of supporters and stated he will pursuing legal action.
Amid intense backlash in the week which followed Serry’s video, the club released another statement to clarify their decision.
A spokesperson for Dagenham & Redbridge said: “The decision to remove Dr Mashhour in no way is an acknowledgment that Dr Mashhour supports messages of hate and division and statements attributable to, or associated with, the club that could be taken to imply Dr Salma supports terrorism.
“As a sporting organisation, we hold no political or geopolitical position, our focus is on fostering inclusivity through the game we love.
“Thank you to everyone who has spoken out thoughtfully and passionately, we are listening.”
Dagenham & Redbridge fans have endured a difficult season both on and off the pitch.
They sit just one point above the relegation zone in the National League and have seen players fighting fans, the departure of their club captain, the sacking of manager Ben Strevens and defender Michael Hector choosing to play in the new Baller League, despite being contracted to the club.
Tensions between fans and chairman Dan Hall have flared throughout the season too, with supporters protesting before and after their league fixture with Tamworth back in March.
Fan website, Dagnificent owner Joel Page said: “It is just a feeling of embarrassment and being utterly drained.
“It feels like you’re waiting for the next disastrous thing to happen, and this has been the cherry on the cake.
“In January we were being hailed as one of non-League’s success stories, having made the FA Cup third round and how the the perception of the club has changed since then, both internally and externally, is quite ludicrous, but all self-inflicted.
“There should have been an apology to our supporters for the abusive bombardment this has inflicted upon us.”
Despite a remarkable 6-1 thumping of Altrincham at the weekend, The Daggers still face a very real possibility of losing their status as a National League club, but can ensure they avoid relegation to regional football with a victory against Solihull Moors on the final day.
Dagenham & Redbridge FC were approached for comment.
Feature image credit: Joel Page
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