An Egyptian referee
was head-butted during the Arab Championship Final in Alexandria on Sunday. Referee
Ibrahim Nour El-Din was attacked by players, officials and fans of Jordanian
club Al Faisaly who lost 3-2 to Tunisia's Esperance after extra-time.
Esperance's 102nd-minute winner sparked violent protests
from Faisaly who immediately vented their fury on the referee, claiming the
goal was offside.
Despite being head-butted and elbowed as he walked off the
pitch, the referee felt he was right in allowing the match to continue.
"I decided not to cancel the match because it would not
be good for Egypt," Ibrahim Nour El Din said after the game.
"One of Al Faisaly's officials came to me and said
sorry after his players attacked me, but then suddenly he also beat me.
"I accepted the insults from Al Faisaly because this
tournament was on Egyptian soil and I did not want to fail - especially because
it was the final," he added.
Egyptian police arrested 38 people who were later freed, and
there are reports that the Jordanian Minister of Sport called his Egyptian
counterpart to apologise.
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