Al Ahly impose one of club’s biggest indoor sports sanctions on Amr Zahran

Al Ahly have imposed a separate punishment on basketball player Amr Zahran, in addition to the three-month suspension and 200,000 Egyptian pounds fine issued by the Egyptian Basketball Federation.

A source at Al Ahly told FilGoal.com the club had handed Zahran “one of the biggest sanctions in the history of indoor sports at Al Ahly” following an incident during the match against Al Qanah.

“Al Ahly do not accept mistakes,” the source added.

The club has not yet reached a final decision on whether to appeal against the federation’s ruling.

The Egyptian Basketball Federation announced its disciplinary measures against Zahran after the incident in Al Ahly’s Egyptian Linked League fixture against Al Qanah. The suspension will run for three months and end when the current Egyptian Linked League competition concludes.

The federation’s punishment also included a substantial fine of 200,000 Egyptian pounds and a final warning for the player.

Al Ahly’s men’s basketball team beat Al Qanah 82-62 in the second round of the Egyptian Linked League.

The competition is an important part of the Egyptian basketball season because its standings determine the first-round match-ups in the Basketball Super League, which provides qualification for the African Basketball League. The draw is based on the positions of the participating teams.

Sixteen teams are taking part: Al Ahly, Al Ittihad Alexandria, Telecom Egypt, Zamalek, Petrojet, Sporting, Smouha, Al Jazira, Al Qanah, Tala’ea El Gaish, Heliopolis, Al Olympi, Ashab El Gead, Al Seid, El Zohour and Damanhour Games.

The preliminary phase is played over home and away matches. A team receives two points for winning both the men’s game and the associated under-16 fixture, while the losing team earns one point.

The four group winners qualify directly for the quarter-finals. Teams finishing second and third in each group must then play placement matches to secure a place in the last eight.

Al Ahly are the holders of the most recent edition of the men’s Egyptian Linked League, having beaten Al Ittihad Alexandria in the final.