Aboutrika warned for Gaza protest

By Ibrahim Sannie
BBC Sport, Ghana

Aboutrika revealed his T-shirt after scoring against Sudan

Egypt midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika has been warned for making a political statement during his team's Africa Cup of Nations match on Saturday.

Aboutrika lifted his Egypt shirt after scoring against Sudan to reveal a T-shirt bearing the message "Sympathy with Gaza".

"A letter has been written to him," a top Confederation of African Football (Caf) official told BBC Sport.

"It gives him a strong warning over the message on his undershirt on Saturday."

Aboutrika, who plays for Egyptian side Al Ahly, was protesting against Israel's 10-day blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory and was subsequently booked by the referee.

The gesture was in contravention of the laws of world football's governing body Fifa, which insists that undershirts must contain no messages of any kind, whether they be of a political, commercial or religious nature.

Egypt assistant coach Shawky Gharib insisted that Aboutrika's actions had no political significance.

"He told me that the way he celebrated scoring was completely personal with no political significance and will not repeat that in the coming matches," said Gharib.

The Pharaohs defeated Sudan and are top of Group C with six points from two games.