CAIRO: Ismaili president Nasr Aboul-Hassan is planning to appeal against the sanction that was imposed on Essam Al-Hadari.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) suspended the Egypt goalie for four months starting next season and fined him $ 796,500 for breaching his contract with Ahly in February 2008 to join Swiss club Sion.
Al-Hadari was initially handed by FIFA a four-month ban and a 900,000 euro fine but the sanction was frozen upon his appeal.
But CAS announced on its official site on Tuesday that the 37-year-old’s punishment has been upheld yet his fine was slightly reduced.
Although the verdict is final, Aboul-Hassan says he’s looking to do what it takes to revoke Al-Hadari’s sanction.
"We will try to appeal against this decision," he told FilGoal.com.
"A meeting with the officials of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) should be held soon to discuss how we can revoke Al-Hadari’s ban.
"He’s not just Ismaili’s keeper but also Egypt’s first-choice goalie."
Al-Hadari, arguably Egypt’s all-time best guardian, is understood to be targeted by Belgian side Lierse and Sudanese outfit Merreikh.
His suspension, however, is expected to dissuade his suitors from approaching him this summer.
Al-Hadari is also missing Egypt’s first two matches in the Nations Cup qualifying stage against Sierra Leone and Niger. Zamalek keeper Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed is likely to fill his void.
