Egypt's Zamalek appeal keeper red card in Confederation Cup clash

Ahram Online , Tuesday 7 May 2019

Mahmoud Gennesh
File photo of Zamalek goalkeeper Mahmoud Gennesh (Ahram)

Egypt's Zamalek will be hoping to have goalkeeper Mahmoud Gennesh available for the first leg of the Confederation Cup final after appealing against the red card shown to him in the semi-final second leg at Tunisia's Etoile Sahel.

In a dramatic finale to the game in Sousse, Gennesh, who was earlier booked for what the referee deemed his time-wasting antics after he fell on the ground for several minutes, received his marching orders in stoppage time after appearing to handle the ball just outside the area as he chased it on the left.

With the three substitutions being already made, lone striker Omar El-Said stood between the sticks but he was not tested as Zamalek restricted Etoile to some tame efforts deep in stoppage time to go through with a 1-0 aggregate win after the second leg ended goalless.

"Chairman Mortada Mansour revealed that the club have lodged an appeal with the Confederation of African Football against the red card shown to goalkeeper Gennesh," Zamalek said in a statement on their official website.

"The club decided to lodge an appeal because the referee's decision was not correct. He adjudged Gennesh to have handled the ball outside the area, but this is not true."

Gennesh has been widely praised by Zamalek's faithful for a series of impressive displays this season as the club fight for three titles -- the Egyptian Premier League, the Egypt Cup and the Confederation Cup.

They will meet Morocco's RS Berkane in a two-legged Confederation Cup final later this month.

The White Knights won the elite Champions League five times but have never won Africa's secondary club competition.

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