The Egyptian Football Association has suspended all the officials who presided over a second-tier soccer match after referee Mohamed Farouk used a fan’s mobile phone footage to disallow a goal.
The controversial action took place during a league match between Al-Nasr and Suez last Friday. With Suez leading 2-1, Al Nasr thought they had scored a late goal to tie it up, only for the former to claim a handball during the play. Bizarrely, because Egypt’s second division is still VAR-free, Farouk used a spectator’s cell phone to replay the questioned goal, which he then disallowed.
had to leave the soccer stadium under police protection
Shortly after play resumed, Suez scored their third goal to wrap up a 3-1 win. Farouk, however, had to leave the soccer stadium under police protection from irate Al-Nasr players and officials, who have threatened legal action against him.
The Egyptian FA cited the head of its national referees committee as making the decision to suspend the match officials for an “indefinite period.”