Egypt national team goalkeeping coach Saafan Al-Saghir will personally bear the financial penalty imposed on him by FIFA following his dismissal during the Pharaohs’ 2026 World Cup last-16 match against Argentina.
Sources within the Egyptian Football Association told Winwin that the governing body will not cover the fine, which exceeds $50,000.
Instead, the full amount will be deducted from Al-Saghir’s financial dues with the Football Association, in line with the regulations governing the national team’s technical staff and the terms of their contracts.
The FIFA punishment also includes a two-match suspension for the goalkeeping coach.
Al-Saghir was sent off during Egypt’s match against Argentina after strongly protesting a refereeing decision, entering the field of play and becoming involved in a verbal confrontation with some of Argentina’s players.
His dismissal subsequently led to disciplinary action from FIFA, with the governing body imposing both a suspension and financial sanction.
The decision has now created a significant financial obligation for the coach, while the Egyptian Football Association has made clear that it will not assume responsibility for the payment.
Egypt FA cites financial regulations
The sources said the association cannot simply pay the fine because doing so would constitute a financial violation and could expose the organisation to legal accountability.
Under the regulations governing the national team’s coaching staff, Al-Saghir is responsible for the penalty arising from his disciplinary offence.
The fine will therefore be recovered directly from money owed to him by the Football Association rather than being paid from the association’s own funds.
The position represents a different approach from an earlier case involving former Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz.
The Egyptian Football Association previously paid a fine imposed by the Confederation of African Football on the Portuguese coach after he failed to attend a press conference during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, the sources stressed that the circumstances were different in that case.
The Football Association had obtained written approval from the Ministry of Sports before agreeing to pay the CAF penalty on behalf of Queiroz.
That prior approval allowed the association to assume the financial responsibility for the fine.
No such arrangement applies to Al-Saghir’s current FIFA punishment, according to the sources.
Two-match suspension confirmed
In addition to the financial penalty, Al-Saghir has been suspended for two matches.
His ban will begin with Egypt’s opening two fixtures in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Pharaohs are scheduled to play Angola and South Sudan during the qualification period, which runs from 21 September to 6 October.
Al-Saghir will therefore be unavailable to the Egypt coaching staff for those opening qualifying matches as the national team begins its campaign for a place at the next continental tournament.
The suspension comes as a direct consequence of the incident during Egypt’s World Cup meeting with Argentina.
His behaviour during the match resulted in the red card and subsequently triggered FIFA’s disciplinary process.
Financial consequences fall on coach
The case has left Al-Saghir facing both sporting and financial consequences.
His two-match suspension means he will miss the beginning of Egypt’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, while the fine of more than $50,000 will be taken from his financial dues.
The Egyptian Football Association’s position is based on the rules governing its relationship with members of the national team’s technical staff.
The association has also stressed that paying the FIFA fine itself could create regulatory problems.
The previous Queiroz case demonstrates that the association can, under certain circumstances, assume responsibility for a coach’s fine, but the necessary approval must be secured beforehand.
In Al-Saghir’s case, the sources said the association would not take that route.
The goalkeeping coach will consequently have to absorb the full financial cost of FIFA’s punishment.
For Egypt, attention will now turn to the national team’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with Al-Saghir’s absence adding another issue for the coaching staff to manage.
The Pharaohs are due to face Angola and South Sudan in their first two qualifying matches between 21 September and 6 October, with Al-Saghir suspended for both fixtures.
