Shameful Egyptian Referee

Apologetic referee says God was on Australia's side after blunder


EGYPTIAN referee Essam Abd El Fatah apologised to Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer during Monday's match and admitted he made a mistake in allowing Japan's goal to stand.Fatah spoke to Schwarzer during a break in play and, after the game, told Socceroos captain Mark Viduka that "God had been on Australia's side".Japan's goal after 26 minutes came after striker Naohiro Takahara obstructed Schwarzer, committing a clear foul.


Egyptian spectators experience bad referring in most games in the domestic league, and it is not unusual to witness such a referring blunder by an Egyptian refs, after all they always call unnecessary penalty kicks when Al-Ahly club is in trouble and in need of a quick goal. Egyptian refs are notorious for making bad calls because they are not fit and they don't follow the ball close enough to be able to make the right call. Frankly I was weary when I saw the Egyptian referee calling the game yesterday, because I didn't want to ref's mistake to be the talk of the fans, but it is just unavoidable.

Finally admitting a mistake without fixing it does not bring justice, it just makes matter mush worse. He should have shut his mouth and stood by his decision because he can't annul the goal after the fact.