Egypt FA will not pay Sefan El-Saghir’s $50,000 FIFA fine

The Egyptian Football Association will not cover the $50,000 fine imposed on Egypt national team goalkeeping coach Sefan El-Saghir, according to a source within the governing body.

FIFA has suspended El-Saghir for two matches and fined him after he was sent off during Egypt’s World Cup last-16 match against Argentina.

A source at the Egyptian Football Association told FilGoal.com: “The Football Association will not bear the fine imposed on Sefan El-Saghir, the national team goalkeeping coach, after the association received a letter from FIFA suspending the coach for two matches and fining him $50,000.”

The source said the financial punishment would have to be paid by El-Saghir because regulations do not allow the football association to assume responsibility for such a fine.

“The reason is that the regulations prohibit the Football Association from bearing the cost of the financial fine, and Sefan El-Saghir is the person responsible for paying it,” the source added.

The comments clarify that the Egyptian Football Association does not intend to intervene over the sanction or use its own funds to settle the amount imposed by FIFA.

The source also referred to an earlier case involving Carlos Queiroz, who previously managed the Egypt national team. On that occasion, the football association paid a fine issued against the Portuguese manager, but the decision was approved by the administrative authority represented by the Ministry of Sports.

“The Football Association had previously paid a fine imposed on Carlos Queiroz, the former national team manager, with the approval of the administrative authority represented by the Ministry of Sports,” the source said.

However, the source stressed that the circumstances are different in El-Saghir’s case and that the coach himself will be responsible for the financial penalty.

“But at the present time, Sefan El-Saghir is the person who will bear the financial fine,” he concluded.

El-Saghir received his red card during Egypt’s meeting with Argentina in the last 16 of the World Cup. FIFA’s disciplinary decision means he will also serve a two-match suspension, in addition to the $50,000 punishment.

The Egyptian Football Association’s position is therefore that the suspension and fine are personal sanctions against the goalkeeping coach, rather than liabilities for the national governing body. The association’s decision follows the FIFA letter confirming both elements of the disciplinary action.