Alexandria-Hani Al-Awadi: FIFA suspended Harras Al-Hodoud duo Mohamed Halim and Ahmed Kamal from professional football for two years for misconduct in a CAF Confederation Cup match. The Hodoud players reacted violently following their third round 3-2 defeat against Iwuanyanwu of Nigeria on May 7th, 2006. Al-Hodoud skipper Halim spit on the referee while Kamal assaulted an Iwuanyanwu player and attempted to do the same to the referee. The players' reaction came after controversial refereeing cost them the game and in turn eliminated them from the tournament. CAF had suspended the player for two years on the continental level, but FIFA's decision came to extend the suspension and fine Al-Hodoud $5,000. Al-Hodoud general secretary Yehia Al-Laqani told FilGoal.com he feels FIFA's decision was "exaggerated".
The game saw some controversial refereeing Al-Laqani said that the club board will convene and discuss appealing FIFA's ruling. "It's just too much, because our players were under a lot of pressure from the referee's controversial calls," Al-Laqani said. The suspension comes ahead of Al-Hodoud's local league match against Masri over the weekend. "The suspension of Halim and Kamal comes as a huge blow for the team and completely messes up all my plans," Al-Hodoud coach Tarek Al-Ashri told FilGoal.com. The Alexandria-based club will also be without Ahmed Eid Abdul-Malek and Abdul-Hamid Basyouni for Masri's game.
