Egyptian FA vice-president Ahmed Shobeir said on Saturday that the Association will not send Essam Al-Hadari's International Transfer Certificate (ITC) to Swiss side Sion. The Egypt keeper stirred controversy when he joined Sion without the approval of his club Ahli. Al-Hadari stressed that he invoked a FIFA rule which allows players over 28, who have spent more than two years at their clubs, to buy out the rest of their contract. However, Ahli vowed to take a legal action against their long-serving guardian, with the support of the Egyptian FA. "After holding a meeting on Saturday morning, the Egyptian FA have decided against sending Al-Hadari's ITC to Sion," Shobeir said. "We will inform our Swiss counterparts in the next few hours." Shobeir, former Ahli keeper himself, believes Al-Hadari's move to Sion is illegitimate. "Article 16 of FIFA laws forbids any player of unilaterally breaching his contract during the season," Shobeir "We are warning Sion of fielding Al-Hadari in any game. If they didn't listen to us, we will be forced to take the matter to FIFA." Shobeir has also called on Ahli to do their best to convince Al-Hadari return home. "Al-Hadari has served Ahli for long years, so the club shouldn't come down too hard on him," he concluded.
