CAIRO: Egyptian Football Association chairman Samir Zaher was dismayed by chants aimed at keeper Essam Al-Hadari during the DR Congo game in the World Cup qualifiers. It was shameful, Zaher told FilGoal.com following the 2-1 victory on Sunday. They are supposed to be backing the team not insulting our players. Did they buy tickets and attend the game only to call Al-Hadari names? Al-Hadari turned from a national hero to a villain, according to Ahly fans, after he used article 17 in the FIFA regulations to leave the Egyptian champions and join Swiss side Sion. Hundreds of Ahly fans located behind the goal showered the 35-year-old keeper with insults before and during the match. Other sections of the crowd, though, cheered the goalie, who was chosen the best keeper in the last two editions of the African Cup of Nations. Goalkeeper coach Ahmed Soliman echoed similar sentiments. If people didn t want to support the team, they should have stayed at home, Soliman said. Al-Hadari never responded to provocations. Instead, he made his familiar gestures to urge fans to cheer for the team.
