Wadi Degla manager Mido banned for four games

By Sampson Adedeji

For protesting against the referee during his side's 1-1 league draw with Zamalek, Mido will miss Wadi Degla's upcoming four games. Wadi Degla boss Mido has been hit by a four-match ban and an EGP 10,000 fine for remonstrating against the referee

during his side's 1-1 Egyptian league drawn with Zamalek on Tuesday.

Playing his fourth match at Degla's helm against boyhood club Zamalek, Mido was sent to the stands by the official at half-time after reportedly protesting against the decision to

rule out a goal scored by midfielder Mohamed Helal for offside. The ex-Zamalek manager, who led the Cairo giants to the Egypt Cup title in 2014, continued his scathing attack on the

referee right after the game, saying that a 'blind linesman' would have allowed the goal to stand. "It was quite clear that it was a legitimate goal. A blind linesman would have never mistaken such a goal for offside,"

an infuriated Mido. "I did not protest at all. I just told the referee that's a shame, that ball was so easy to say it wasn't offside, he sent me to the

stands instead. "The referees need to be fair; they need not bear in mind the

identity of the team they are officiating the game for and just focus on the game. Football in Egypt would not develop with such refereeing."

The 33-year-old coach kicked off his Degla career with a 1-1 draw against highly-rated Smouha before edging out ENPPI 4-3 in a thriller. Degla also lost 1-0 to Hossam Hassan's Masry before playing out a 1-1 draw with Zamalek.

The touchline ban will see Mido miss the upcoming fixtures against Ismaily, Arab Contractors, Tanta and Dakhleya.