ZAMALEK Captain Shikabala hit with ban after Egyptian Premier League title
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has handed Zamalek captain Mahmoud Abdelrazek “Shikabala” an eight-month ban and a fine for misconduct following the club’s recent title win.
For Shikabala, the joy of winning the Egyptian Premier League title last week will have been short-lived as the club skipper now faces eight months on the sidelines for misconduct, as well as a LE 500 000 (R466 000) fine, per KingFut.
Zamalek clinched their 13th EPL title last week, ending a six-year barren league run. However, controversy soon followed as EFA president Ahmed Megahed was said to have handed over the trophy to the White Knights in an unsporting manner, which sparked chaos at the ceremony.
It is believed that Shikabala later had an altercation with Megahed, who reportedly had not informed the police to allow some of the Zamalek players who were not in the matchday squad into the stadium, which left a sour taste in the mouths of the EPL champions.
Furthermore, the skipper was reportedly the chief instigator of insults that chanted about rivals Al Ahly and their fans, and the EFA has since decided to act by serving Zamalek with sanctions, while Shikabala and teammate Hazem Emam were also fined and suspended.
Emam received a four-match ban and a LE 100 000 fine (R93 000), while the club was also handed two LE 100 000 fines for their fans’ misconduct and pitch invasion, respectively, during the second half of their match against National Bank of Egypt.
