Egyptian goalkeeper Esam el-Hadary (Photo: AFP)
Sudanese side El-Merreikh have expressed renewed interest in recalling Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary due to last week’s Port Said football violence after loaning him to Alexandria’s Ittihad this winter.
Merreikh reportedly intend to send a formal request to the Sudanese Football Association to reverse its decision to refer the keeper’s international license to Ittihad, Sudanese newspaper goansport.net reported.
The Sudanese giants are eager to make use of El-Hadary’s talents in the African Champions League championship as the player has retained his place in the team’s African squad.
The Egyptian premier league has been indefinitely suspended after thousands of Masry fans invaded the pitch following their team's 3-1 victory over Ahly last Wednesday. The ensuing violence between rival fans left scores dead and hundreds injured.
The 39-year-old El-Hadary, who has said more than once that he is not contemplating retirement, joined Ittihad on loan until the end of the current season in hopes of ending his ongoing saga with the Sudanese team, which had earlier lodged a complaint with FIFA after the former Ismaily and Zamalek player refused to attend mandatory training.
The Pharaohs’ longstanding keeper played an instrumental role in helping Egypt win three successive African titles, but has been dogged by a string of problems since leaving Egyptian champions Ahly for Swiss side Sion in 2008.
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