Local newspaper Al-Bayan said the committee showed the former Egyptian referee the door because he was no longer focusing on his job.

The paper said Al-Ghandour was busy working as a refereeing analyst for TV networks rather than doing his job with UAE referees.

Al-Ghandour, who was named the Egyptian refereeing committee chief more than once, is widely considered as the best official in the country's history.

He took part in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, EURO 2000 and four successive African Cup of Nations in 1994, 96, 98, 2000 and 02.