Mostafa Asal: the boy of extremes who has polarised squash

By Alan Thatcher

March 22, 2023 - 12:04pm

0 comments

Having a balanced view of squash’s most schismatic star Mostafa Asal is impossible. He polarises opinion like no other player in the game’s history. He demands attention. Ignoring him is not an option. 

Rather like Brexit, Donald Trump or Harry and Meghan, it seems absolutely nobody is ‘on the fence’ on the issue of Mostafa Asal. But I’m about to launch into an attempt to give both sides of the Asal argument, so wish me luck. 

The so-called ‘Raging Bull’ is perhaps such a divisive force because his own nature is extreme in both directions. In amongst the blocking, barging, trailing legs, faux injuries, outrageous celebrations, goading, arguments, social media rants and PSA suspensions (the second of which, announced this week, rules him out of the British Open), those who know him say he’s a genuinely nice young man. 

• READ all the news, interviews on squash star Mostafa Asal

That was certainly my impression from a brief conversation at the recent Canary Wharf Classic. We chatted about his love of football and the PlayStation game Fifa. I mentioned my teenage son was prone to ‘Fifa rage’ (outbursts of anger after losing a match). Asal said he gets it too – and has broken two TVs from throwing his controller at the screen. 

This contradiction of an open, chatty young man off court and the dazzling, snarling pitbull in the competitive arena is deeply ingrained. Hidden away deep in the internet is a blog from the 2018 Nash Cup in Ontario, Canada, describing a then 17-year-old Asal’s semi-final against Jamaica’s Christopher Binnie.

It is very revealing. 

“At times the quality of squash was breath-taking, but there were non-stop discussions and collisions on court,” it reads. “Mostafa is going to be a top player, but he has to learn to be a man on court before this will happen. 

“The match was at 9-5 in the fourth and ended with two conduct strokes against the young Egyptian. He walked off court, without asking, and never came back… When he finally did return and was informed that the match was over, he exploded! There was shouting and poor behaviour towards the ref! 

“[Later] Mostafa very maturely came into the office and personally apologised to all the referees. We had a good chat and I have to say he was genuinely upset and realised he was in the wrong.” 

So five years ago, the signs were there – brilliant, unruly, ill-disciplined and polite all in a flash. The tempestuous ‘Fifa rage’ followed by the humble, apologetic aftermath.

https://i0.wp.com/squashmad.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mostafa-Asal-... 300w, https://i0.wp.com/squashmad.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mostafa-Asal-... 150w, https://i0.wp.com/squashmad.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mostafa-Asal-... 768w, https://i0.wp.com/squashmad.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mostafa-Asal-... 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/squashmad.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mostafa-Asal-... 696w, https://i0.wp.com/squashmad.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mostafa-Asal-... 1068w, https://i0.wp.com/squashmad.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mostafa-Asal-... 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/squashmad.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mostafa-Asal-... 1392w" sizes="(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px" data-recalc-dims="1" />Asal’s supporters – spearheaded by Squash Stories’ head mischief-maker Jamie Maddox – allege victimisation of their hero. They have some evidence. Some referees seem to bring pre-conceptions into his matches. Every let, no let, stroke, conduct stroke and suspension produces howls of derision and micro-analysis online, with decisions compared to allegedly softer treatment of his rivals.

The incident in the rancorous semi-final at Canary Wharf – when Joel Makin and ref John Massarella refused to show Asal an allegedly split ball – seemed odd and unsporting (even if it did abide by the rules – see Rule 11.5). Makin’s defence afterwards seemed to be that he had to resort to ‘Asal-style’ tactics to gain a competitive edge. This might set a worrying precedent. 

Asal, of course, has many critics, not just within the sport’s fanbase but amongst his opponents, some of whom have made their criticism public on this website and social media. 

He is wildly popular in Cairo, especially with the younger generation. One gets the strong impression that that popularity is not reflected in the corridors and dressing rooms on the PSA Tour. 

When his matches descend into the dreadful spectacle we saw at the Houston Open against Marwan ElShorbagy or against Fares Dessouky at the Black Ball Open (to pick just two examples), it does not reflect well on squash. Squash is currently bidding, once again, for inclusion in the Olympic Games. Those types of matches – if the IOC are bothering to watch – do not enhance the sport’s credentials.

And yet – haven’t we long been begging for a stand-out personality at the top of the sport, someone to give the general public a narrative to chew on, to stir debate, break the humdrum mateyness between the players and ignite enough interest to help turn around the sport’s participation decline?

Would the Daily Telegraph, for example, have written a single word about squash this entire year if Asal had not, as it reported this week, ‘turned squash into a warzone’? Does such publicity make it more or less likely that the casual sports fan will seek out the next squash tournament on television? 

If Asal’s antics do fill more newspaper column inches, spark social media ‘noise’, get more fans watching and potentially lead to a few more youngsters picking up a racket, isn’t that a good thing? 

I’ll let you decide. But rather like Trump, Harry and Meghan and Brexit, it’s likely that no amount of evidence or argument is going to change your mind.

The post Mostafa Asal: the boy of extremes who has polarised squash appeared first on Squash Mad.