Boycott against Qatar has moved to sports activities after African Football Confederation (CAF) slapped Hossam El Badry, coach of al-Ahly football club, with one match sanction after the Egypt technician boycotted a press conference ahead of an African Champions League match over the presence of Qatar’s sports channel, Bein Sports, in the room.
The sanction was pressed against Cairo’s al-Ahly coach following a June 20 incident in build-up to a CAF African Champions League tie between al-Ahly and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca. El Badry had walked out of the press conference room because of the presence of a Bein Sports microphone.
He reportedly came back in the room later but covered up Bein Sports microphone.
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt have severed ties with Qatar and blocked access to Qatari media outlets including Doha-based Al Jazeera news network, as well as Bein Sports channels.
Egyptian Football Association and clubs have also enforced the boycott.
El Badry’s boycott continued as the whole Egyptian club refused to grant Bein Sport an interview after their match with Cameroon’s Coton Sport in Alexandria, last Sunday.
CAF decided to penalize the Egyptian coach over his attitude. The African football governing body also pressed $10,000 fine against him arguing that he violated “directives and guidelines related to media operations.”
El-Badry’s one-game ban however was put on hold, provided he is not found guilty of a similar offense during the remainder of the African Champions League, al Jazeera reports.
