Zamalek’s friendly against Iranian side Sepahan Esfahan was called off following protests by the Cairo-base club at a decision by the referee.

The match, played in the United Arab Emirates, had seen just 35 minutes of play before Zamalek players walked off the pitch after being order to do so by the infuriated manager, Hossam Hassan.

Hassan had earlier been dismissed by the referee for dissent, a decision which didn’t sit well with the fiery-tempered coach.

Just minutes before Zamalek withdrew from the match, Esfahan had pulled ahead 1-0 after converting a penalty.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on its official website that it was anticipating a report from its UAE counterpart that would shed light on the incident.

“We asked for a report from the UAE Football Association before discussing the matter,” the EFA said in a statement.

“The EFA took this step to preserve good relations between Egypt and other nations.”

Zamalek, who are currently holding a training camp in the UAE during the Egyptian Premier League’s winter break, sit atop the league tables with 31 points from 14 games, five ahead of nearest challengers Ismaily and ENPPI.