CAIRO: Zamalek’s Egyptian League match against Masri at Port Said was called off on Saturday after crowd trouble took place while the visitors were leading 1-0.
Referee Ahmed Oda stopped the match in the 81st minute when Masri fans shouted angry chants against him for waving the play on after Wagih Abdel Azim fell inside the area.
The spectators demanded a penalty but Oda believed it was a normal contact between Zamalek left-back Tarek Al-Sayed and Abdel Azim.
Zamalek are likely to be awarded winners while it remains to be seen whether the Egyptian Football Association will impose heavy sanctions on Masri.
Sherif Ashraf put Zamalek ahead after seven minutes to notch his first goal since arriving from arch-rivals Al Ahly in the close season.
Gamal Hamza’s cross from the right was flicked by Abdel Halim Ali into the path of Ashraf, who headed home from close range at the far post.
Defender Mahmoud Fathallah almost doubled the advantage in the 17th minute when he connected with Ahmed Magdi’s corner to head just wide of the post.
The men in white continued their domination in terms of possession but the match flow was marred by ongoing brawls on the pitch.
Ahmed Ghanem was lucky to escape with a yellow card in the 25th minute when he elbowed an opponent.
Masri fans were raged in protest of referee Oda’s decision not to award the hosts a penalty after Magdi allegedly handled a cross from the right flank.
However, television replays showed that the ball hit Magdi’s chest.
Masri fans called for two more penalties in the second-period but Oda did not react in the struggling side’s favor, waving the play on.
