The Egyptian Football Association has suspended referee Mohamed Farouk for using a spectator’s mobile phone to disallow a goal in a second division league match between Al-Nasr and Suez.
The incident occurred last Friday, with Al-Nasr believing they had scored a late equalizer.
With no video assistant referee (VAR) available, Farouk used the phone to watch a replay of the incident after Suez players protested a handball. Farouk subsequently ruled the goal out.
Vitor Pereira, the new head of the Egyptian Referees Committee, has suspended the entire refereeing staff for an indefinite period while the committee investigates the incident.
Suez went on to win the match 3-1, with protests from Al-Nasr players and officials leading to Farouk leaving the pitch under police protection.
The referee is facing potential legal action for violating regulations.