The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has overturned a decision to expel attacking midfielder Amr Warda for alleged sexual harassment of several women online following the intervention of several of his teammates, including star striker Mohamed Salah.
Warda on Wednesday was expelled from Egypt’s African Nations Cup squad after a model uploaded screenshots of inappropriate messages that the 25-year-old PAOK footballer had allegedly sent her via Whatsapp.
The EFA said in a statement on Friday that it would reduce the penalty against Warda, effectively allowing him to return to the squad for the tournament’s second round.
“[President] Hani Abu Reda has praised the spirit of solidarity among the players and their desire to pardon their colleague Amr Warda and to lift the decision to suspend him,” a statement on the EFA’s website read.
“He decided to reduce the penalty of suspension until the end of the first round of the tournament only.”
The decision came after Warda on Thursday posted a video on Facebook apologising to his family, teammates, the EFA and “anyone who is upset with me”. In his message, Warda made no direct apology to the women he had allegedly harassed.
