Watch: Referee allows goalkeeper to stop the ball by hand outside the box in Nile Egyptian League

Tala’ea El Gaish claimed a 1-0 victory over Pharco on Tuesday evening in the third round of the Nile Egyptian League, but the match was overshadowed by a controversial refereeing decision involving Pharco goalkeeper Mohamed Said “Sheka.”

Just two minutes into the game at El Max Stadium, Sheka mishandled a ball, and the ball went to the Togolese Tala’ea El Gaish forward Ismail Ouro-Agoro, who fired towards goal. In a desperate attempt to recover, the Pharco goalkeeper blocked the shot with his hand outside the penalty area. The referee did not stop the play for any foul and the play went on without any decision.

Despite the presence of VAR technology and multiple camera angles inside the stadium, the referee did not stop the game to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, leaving a possible red card without review.

The decisive moment came in the 65th minute when Togolese striker Ismail Ouro-Agoro unleashed a strike from outside the box to secure all three points for Tala’ea El Gaish.

Tala’ea El Gaish and Pharco standings in Nile Egyptian League table

Tala’ea El Gaish moved up to 8th place on 4 points, while Pharco sit bottom of the table in 21st with a single point after three matches.

The result handed El Gaish their first win of the season in Nile Egyptian League, while Pharco were left without any victory so far this season.