The International Football Federation (FIFA) has informed the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and Ismaili to put on hold Hosni Abd-Rabou's participation until their competent decision-making body decide on the eligibly of the player for a specific club. “In reaction to your inquiry on whether the above-mentioned player is eligible to play for the Egyptian club Ismaili FC despite the fact that apparently a contractual dispute might concern the player Hosni Abd-Rabou, we regret having to inform you that in case of a dispute only our competent decision-making bodies may express themselves on the eligibility of a player for a specific club,” the world football governing body told the EFA through a fax sent on July 18th. “Consequently, until our competent authority will not have passed a formal decision on the matter concerning the player Hosni Abd-Rabou, if need to be, we are not in a position to give you any legal advice.” “We understand from the documentation received by our services that the player Hosni Abd-Rabou is still registered with the Egyptian Football Association in favour of Ismaili FC.
The fax sent by FIFA to the EFA on July 18 “It also appears that, to this day, the Egyptian Football Association has not issued the International Transfer certificate (ITC), of the above mentioned player to another association. “Moreover, and as informed by means of our correspondence dated July 11th 2007, the former association shall not issue an ITC in case that a contract has not expired or that there has been no mutual agreement regarding its early termination, this is in case that a contractual dispute has arisen between the former club and the professional.” The FIFA fax insisted that “only registered players are eligible to play in organized Football,” and “that a player is eligible to play for a specific club as long as he fulfills the condition of the registration with the association concerned.” From the above-mentioned fax we can confirm that Abd-Rabou is not eligible to play with Ismaili or even with Ahli until the case is closed. It also denies Ismaili's agent claims who said earlier that FIFA temporarily allowed Abd-Rabou to play for the Dervishes.
