Referees Suspended Indefinitely After Using Phone Instead of VAR in Tanta vs. El Masry Telecom Match

The Referees Committee of the Egyptian Football Association has announced the suspension of the refereeing crew for the match between Tanta and El Masry lel Etisalat, played in the Egyptian Second Division League. The decision comes in the wake of the controversial events that took place during the encounter.

A statement from the committee read: "Following the events witnessed during the Tanta vs. El Masry lel Etisalat match in the Professional League on April 16, 2026, and after receiving individual written reports from the named referees – center referee Abdel Aziz El-Sayed, first assistant Walid Mamdouh, second assistant Shihab Rashed, and fourth official Hossam Hassan – the committee decided to suspend them from their duties in all divisions and competitions until further notice."

The statement continued: "The incident has also been referred to the competent investigative authority to make a final decision in accordance with the applicable regulations. We affirm our commitment to transparency and to the strict application of the laws of the game, which are fundamental pillars of our refereeing work."

The controversy arose when a penalty kick was awarded to El Masry lel Etisalat following a signal from the assistant referee. This decision sparked strong protests from Tanta, with players threatening to leave the field. However, the fourth official intervened, reviewing the incident on a "phone" and confirming that the foul had occurred outside the penalty area, leading to the penalty kick being overturned.