Ahly striker reiterates apology for Rabaa sign

Ahly striker Ahmed Abdel-Zaher feels remorseful for having made the four-finger Rabaa salute associated with the Muslim Brotherhood during the African Champions League final earlier this month, his agent told a TV programme on Thursday. "Ahmed is still very saddened by what happened. He didn't expect all this controversy. He just wanted to show a sign of support to one of his friends who died at Rabaa [protest camp]," his agent Mohamed Shiha said. Abdel-Zaher made the gesture after scoring Ahly's second goal against the Orlando Pirates to seal a 2-0 victory that led the Red Devils to an eighth Champions League title. The former ENPPI striker is known for being a Brotherhood supporter and was pictured during some of their marches as well as at the Rabaa protest camp set up by supporters of the Brotherhood's ousted president Mohamed Morsi. A police crackdown on the camp in August left hundreds of protesters dead.   Despite issuing an apology just after the game, Ahly harshly sanctioned the player, who was signed this summer. The 28-year-old striker has been deprived of bonuses, suspended indefinitely and put up for sale. "Ahly took a hard stance. He had already presented his excuses and he did even after confirming that if the clock were turned back he would not repeat his action. Abdel-Zaher said that he respects all the officials whether club or state and he accepts the sanctions," Shiha added. Talking about his future, Shiha said that the Ahly striker has had some offers but a Tunisian club - reportedly Club Africain - is in a leading position to sign him. "Right now we are still negotiating the offers but something is sure -- he won't play in Qatar, nor in Turkey. We know how it is now in Egypt seeing that these two countries have been supportive of the Brotherhood and we don't want to have any twisted interpretations," he concluded. Ahly announced its 23-man squad for next month's Club World Club on Thursday. Abdel-Zaher has been excluded. Source: Ahram Online