Egypt's Ahly's football player, Ahmed Abdul Zahar shows a four-finger sign, called Rabaa (four) in Arabic, as he celebrates after scoring in Cairo on November 10, 2013 (Photo: AFP)
Sanctions continued for Ahly striker Ahmed Abdel-Zaher, who fell afoul of Egyptian football officials last month after making the four-fingered Rabaa solidarity sign at the African Champions League final.
The gesture got the 28-year-old suspended and deprived of his Champions League bonus. It was also announced that he would be put up for sale in January.
On Thursday, however, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) took the sanctions a step further, announcing that Abdel-Zaher has been banned from representing Egypt for one year. He has also been imposed with a three-month local ban.
Abdel-Zaher, who was bought by Ahly last summer from ENPPI, featured in 10 games for the Pharaohs, scoring two goals.
He was instrumental in Ahly's triumphant campaign in the African Champions League, scoring three times, including a pivotal goal in the final against South Africa's Orlando Pirates.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: