Chaos and controversy took center stage in the Egyptian Second Division on Thursday after a referee used a mobile phone to review a key decision during the clash between Tanta and Telecom Egypt.
The bizarre incident, which has since gone viral, saw match officials effectively improvise a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system despite the competition not having the technology in place.
The drama unfolded in the 41st minute when referee Abdel Aziz El Sayed awarded a penalty to Telecom Egypt following a foul incident near the edge of the box.
Tanta players immediately protested, insisting the infringement occurred outside the penalty area. Tensions quickly escalated, with head coach Ayman Al-Muzain reportedly instructing his players to walk off the pitch in protest, forcing a temporary suspension of the match.
In an unprecedented move, the fourth official, Hossam Hassan, then reviewed footage of the incident on a mobile phone reportedly provided pitch side.
After consulting the footage, the referee overturned his original decision, cancelling the penalty and instead awarding a free kick just outside the area.
Despite the confusion and protests from both sides, Telecom Egypt capitalized on the revised decision, scoring directly from the resulting free kick.
The match eventually resumed after a delay of more than 20 minutes and ended in a 1-1 draw though the result was largely overshadowed by the officiating controversy.
The Egyptian Football Association has since reacted swiftly, suspending the referee and his assistants involved in the match pending further investigation.
Officials are now working to determine whose mobile phone was used in the decision-making process, with the incident widely viewed as a clear breach of football regulations.
The use of external video devices is strictly prohibited in competitions without officially approved VAR systems, raising serious concerns about officiating standards in the league
