Egypt goalkeeper, Mohamed El-Shenawy, has been handed a four-match ban and fined following an incident involving a referee after Al-Ahly’s 1–1 draw with Ceramica Cleopatra in the Egyptian Pro League.
The disciplinary action came after El-Shenawy, who was on the bench for the match, reacted angrily to a late decision in which Al-Ahly were not awarded a penalty for a suspected handball in stoppage time.
The situation escalated after the final whistle, leading to an altercation with a match official.
In an official statement on Friday, the Egyptian Pro league confirmed the punishment, saying, “A four-match ban and fine of 50,000 Egyptian pounds (£700) for assaulting the referee by pushing or pulling (use of the hand without violence).”
The suspension rules El-Shenawy out of four league matches and is expected to keep him sidelined until the final stage of the season’s Championship round, where the top seven teams compete for the title.
The 37-year-old, who is a key figure for both club and country, was Egypt’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and is expected to be included in the national squad for the upcoming World Cup in North America.
His club, Al Ahly SC, are currently third in the play-off standings on 41 points after one match, five points behind leaders Zamalek SC.
The ruling comes at a crucial stage of the season, with Al-Ahly still pushing to defend their league title in a tightly contested Championship race.