Egyptian national team goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy has not officially announced his retirement from international football, contrary to recent rumors. El-Shenawy was upset with the team's management of his injury, a grade 2 hamstring strain, which he sustained during Al Ahly's last training session before the international break. The goalkeeper had requested to participate in Al Ahly's matches against Al Mokawloon and Abu Qir Fertilizers to maintain his physical fitness before joining the national team.
El-Shenawy's frustration stems from the team's management not mentioning his injury during a press conference, instead highlighting the injuries of other players, including Hamdi Fathi, Trezeguet, and Yasser Ibrahim. This led to speculation that El-Shenawy was deliberately not joining the team or faking his injury, which he strongly denies. The goalkeeper had sent his medical reports to the national team's medical staff and was invited to join the team for a medical examination, but the team's manager, Ibrahim Hassan, declined.
El-Shenawy had previously expressed frustration when he was not allowed to play in a match against Iran during the World Cup, but he adhered to the team's decision at the time. The goalkeeper is currently focused on recovering from his injury and has not discussed his international future with the team's management or Al Ahly's officials.
In a separate issue, Al Ahly's management is unhappy with comments made by Essam Abdel Fattah, head of the Egyptian Referees Committee, regarding the selection of foreign referees for the upcoming Cairo derby against Zamalek. Abdel Fattah mentioned that he prefers referees from the Portuguese school, but later suggested that referees from France or Germany could also be considered.
Al Ahly's management is studying the possibility of contacting the Egyptian Football Association to learn more about the referees' selection process for the Cairo derby. The club had previously requested that foreign referees be used for the match and offered to cover all costs associated with bringing in an international refereeing team.
Al Ahly had specified that they wanted referees from top European leagues, including England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France, to officiate the match. The club also wants to know the reasons behind any potential withdrawals of referees from the associations they requested.
Al Ahly's management and coaching staff are planning to impose stricter discipline and secrecy within the team during the international break, with a focus on maintaining focus ahead of the upcoming matches. The club will maintain its media blackout, and players are not allowed to discuss training sessions or friendly matches during this period.
Key points
- Mohamed El-Shenawy has not announced his retirement from international football despite being upset with the Egyptian national team's handling of his injury.
