Apart from the overly-exaggerating sanction that Ahli had imposed on the striker following his 'Rabaa' sign incident, the involvement of several irrelevant parties in the issue is inexplicable by all means.

A player flashing a political sign after scoring in a continental game suddenly finds himself subject to an investigation by the local association.

Not just that, a governmental institution in the Ministry of Sports 'condemns' his act as well.

Are they really involved in the case?

Why should Abdul-Zaher be summoned for questioning by the domestic football association at the time his infringement came in an event that is fully under CAF jurisdiction?

Displaying political/racial/religious slogans is prohibited by FIFA, but what if the Champions League regulations do not mention such a violation as unpermitted in the first place?

The African football governing body bans the involvement of political slogans in the Cup of Nations – pursuant to articles 91.2 and 91.3 – but didn't actually mention similar clauses in the Champions League regulations.

So the only authority entitled to deal with Abdul-Zaher did not charge him up until now, and if they did, it will only be according to a written recommendation from match officials, not from the Egyptian FA.

Yet the Egyptian FA - with that typical unprofessionalism - is keen to intervene and I doubt it is for the sake of ‘preserving order’.

Heavy sanctions

What's really more infuriating is the stance of the Ministry of Sports, led by former Ahli star Taher Abou-Zeid.

"Under any circumstances, Abdul-Zaher shouldn't go unpunished after what he did," Abou-Zeid said in an official statement.

"I'm sure heavy sanctions from Ahli and the FA are awaiting him.

"We are waiting for the outcome of Ahli's investigations with Abdul-Zaher as his punishment must be equivalent to his act."

How could Abou-Zeid overlook the fact that the government is not authorized to interfere in the game by FIFA rules?

Because this sounded like an indirect recommendation, rather than a mere statement.

That whole matter is simply none of Abou-Zeid's ministry business, so he's speaking on the behalf of whom? And why does he ‘await’ the results of an investigation conducted against a player?

Will his ministry take action if the sanctions imposed on Abdul-Zaher were lenient or not up to the level of his crime for instance?

Ahli’s career-ruining decision

The player's own club are, of course, totally assigned to bring him to account if he broke the regulations.

Ahli, who usually think they are the ‘club of principles’, cited their ‘total rejection to mixing sports with politics’ as they announced the sanction.

However, the quickness by which such a serious decision was made suggests that it wasn’t just a matter of principles.

Abdul-Zaher was not axed because he made a political sign, but because he made the wrong sign.

The Egypt international – who is on brink of losing his means of a living inside his homeland for just displaying a four-finger sign – admitted he ‘embroiled himself in an unnecessary political issue’.

But it's important to underline how ironic it looks to see someone obliged to abide by laws and regulations by authorities who barely know anything about these rules.