Issue No.587
Sports
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23 -29 May 2002 Issue No.587 Sports |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Recommend this page | ||
Half-time
Don't expect the axe to fall
By Inas Mazhar
Once again, Hossam Hassan could get away with just a rap on the knuckles. A one-year suspension by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) was demanded by many when the Zamalek forward, with the TV cameras rolling, left the field after his team was thoroughly thrashed by Ahli, waving one of his football boots to Ahli supporters. Hassan was temporarily slapped with a one-day suspension. This week, the EFA will give its final ruling on the subject.
But severe sanctions should not be anticipated. Hassan, known as the bad boy of Egyptian football, has more than once got out of jams stemming from irresponsible behaviour. The EFA has constantly turned a blind eye and played deaf when it comes to the striker. In deference to Hassan's soccer accomplishments -- he once held the world record for most caps -- the EFA has gone consistently soft on this veteran, and will perhaps be extra nice to him because, at age 36, Hassan's swan song is just around the corner.
There is another sign that the EFA's verdict will be far less harsh than is publicly demanded -- the temporary suspension was coming anyway. Against Ahli, Hassan received a yellow card -- his second this season -- meaning he would have automatically missed his team's next game. So out of its good heart, the EFA has already lessened Hassan's punishment by one match.
Hassan's career achievements might rescue him once again but, ironically enough, they might have been detrimental to him on Saturday when, on a phone-in TV sports talk show, he called in to compare himself with Ahli club's former president Saleh Selim who died last month. Hassan claimed he had achieved more for Ahli when he played for the club.
It was not the brightest thing to say; neither was it precise. For one, there were not nearly half as many soccer events during Selim's time as there are today, giving Hassan vastly more opportunities to win championships. More important, Selim was the most celebrated and charismatic Egyptian sports figure ever and his death left a void which almost everyone agrees will be extremely hard to fill. For Hassan to hint that he is in the same league with Selim, whose death is still fresh in mind, was not in good taste nor was it good timing.
Ahli club intends to question Hassan about his remarks and there is talk of the club cancelling his membership which would be a slap in the face for Hassan, who played 15 years for Ahli before switching to Zamalek two seasons ago.
Hassan's faux pas ensures that the public will not be as lenient with him as the EFA might be, although the association should take Hassan to task for his shoe show. It should start treating players as equals rather than making one appear as if he were above all else.
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