Zamalek will launch an appeal with the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) to have the match bans imposed on their players Hazem Emam and Alaa Ali reduced, the club said Saturday. Wing-back Emam was hit with an eight-match ban for stealing a yellow card from the referee's grasp and throwing it away before being sent off in Zamalek's 1-1 league draw with Police Union on Wednesday. Playmaker Ali was suspended for three matches after cameras caught him chasing Police assistant coach Mohamed Ibrahim after the end of the ill-tempered clash. "We will appeal against the decisions to ban Ali and Emam within the next two days," Zamalek spokesman Sabri Serag said on the club's official website. "The club believe that those bans were excessive, given the heated atmosphere of the game. "The EFA should also take into account the young age of the players, who lack experience. "The club wants the eight-match ban of Emam and the three-match ban of Ali reduced." Emam, a talented player who is often criticised for some childish acts on and off the pitch, accused the EFA of favouring Zamalek's arch-rivals Ahli, who are close to winning a sixth successive league title. Ali also hit out at the Samir Zaher-led association, saying that his suspension is 'totally unfair'.
