The Egyptian Pro League announced on Thursday that Al-Ahly goalkeeper and Egypt international Mohamed El-Shenawy has been handed a four-match ban and fined 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($942) for assaulting a referee. This decision follows an incident where the player struck the referee on the head after a 1-1 draw with Ceramica Cleopatra on Tuesday.

El-Shenawy, who was on the bench during the match, became incensed after the referee denied Al-Ahly's appeal for a penalty due to a handball in stoppage time. The league stated in a release that he was penalized for "pushing or pulling" the referee. This event has reignited discussions about sports discipline and respect for officiating in football.

The suspension means El-Shenawy will be sidelined until the final week of the league playoffs, potentially impacting his preparation for the upcoming World Cup in North America, where he is expected to be Egypt's starting goalkeeper. Al-Ahly currently sits third in the league with 41 points, trailing leaders Zamalek by five points. This ban could adversely affect the club's championship aspirations as the season progresses.

Source: www.aljazeera.com