Al-Ahly's Mohamed El-Shenawy Faces Suspension for Referee Assault
In a significant development in Egyptian football, Mohamed El-Shenawy, the goalkeeper for Al-Ahly, has been handed a four-match suspension after an incident where he struck a referee on the head. This decision follows a heated match against Ceramica Cleopatra, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and was announced by the Egyptian Pro League on Thursday, April 10, 2026. El-Shenawy, who was not on the field during the match but was on the bench, expressed his frustration vehemently after the referee denied Al-Ahly a penalty for a handball that occurred during stoppage time.
The league's statement confirmed that El-Shenawy would face a fine of 50,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $942) in addition to his suspension, which was attributed to his actions of pushing or pulling the referee, categorized as an assault without physical violence. This suspension comes at a crucial time for the player, as he is expected to be the starting goalkeeper for the Egyptian national team in the upcoming World Cup scheduled to take place in North America.
As a result of this ban, El-Shenawy will be unavailable for the final week of the league play-offs, a period that is critical for Al-Ahly as they aim to improve their standing in the league. Currently, the team sits in third place with 41 points, trailing five points behind the leaders, Zamalek. This incident not only impacts El-Shenawy's personal career but also poses challenges for Al-Ahly as they navigate the remainder of the season without one of their key players.
As reported by straitstimes.com.
