AL AHLY Football Club has slapped their player Hussein El-Shahat with a substantial fine of half a million Egyptian pounds (over MAD 157,000, N12,312,700.21) over his aggressive behaviour during a match in the Egyptian Premier League against Pyramids FC.
The incident, which took place last Sunday, sparked intense controversy as El-Shahat engaged in heated verbal exchanges with his opponent, Moroccan Mohamed Chibi, before delivering a strong slap to his face.
El-Shahat’s behaviour has drawn criticism from within the football community, with videos of his violent attack on Chibi spreading widely on social media. This has triggered a wave of demands for accountability and responsibility for his actions on the field.
In response to the incident, Al Ahly released a statement on Tuesday announcing that they have imposed a hefty financial penalty on the Egyptian player over the “unacceptable incidents” that took place on the pitch. The club said they took into consideration “the player’s acknowledgement of the mistake and his apology for his actions.”
Al Ahly emphasized that their successful season and achievements should never be an excuse for any player to deviate from the established standards of behaviour and sportsmanship on the field.
In addition, the statement called on the Egyptian football association and its committees to “double their efforts and work on establishing justice and implementing the regulations according to consistent and clear standards in administrative, organisational, disciplinary, and financial aspects with all clubs alike.”
The club has also expressed its concerns and demands regarding the refereeing system in Egyptian football, calling for more attention and active measures to create a fair and competitive environment for all teams.
Football fans expressed their shock over El-Shahat’s behaviour, with many calling for harsher consequences and for a suspension to be added to the fine.
Following the incident at the 30 June Stadium, the Moroccan player took to social media to reveal further details about the situation. He disclosed that he had experienced “verbal abuse and insults” towards his parents during the Super Cup match in the United Arab Emirates on 5th May, as well as during the recent match, “accompanied by harassment and physical attacks in both games.”
Chibi added that prior to the slap, El-Shahat had even threatened to break his leg, saying, “If you had started the match, I would have broken your leg.”
Despite El-Shahat’s subsequent apology and attempts at reconciliation in front of journalists, Chibi revealed that these actions were influenced by the circulation of the video showing the slap on social media.
Eighteen-Eleven Media