The Giza Criminal Court brought to a close one of the cases that captivated Egyptian sports public opinion in recent months, accepting the appeal filed by Ramadan Sobhi , star of Pyramids FC and the Egyptian national team, against his one-year prison sentence for forgery of official documents. The court decided to amend the sentence to include a three-year suspended term, thus sparing the player from imprisonment as long as he does not commit a similar crime during this period.
Details of the ruling and background of the case
The court had previously issued a preliminary ruling sentencing Ramadan Sobhi to one year in prison with hard labor, along with the second defendant who took the exam on his behalf. In the same case, the court acquitted the third defendant, while sentencing the fourth defendant (who is at large) to 10 years in prison. The suspended sentence allows the player to continue his sporting career without legal obstacles currently restricting his freedom.
The incident dates back to last May, when security forces apprehended a man taking an exam on behalf of a Pyramids FC player at a higher institute for tourism and hotels in the Abu Nimras area. Upon questioning, the accused confessed to receiving payment for taking the exam in the player's place, which, given the nature of the exam papers, transformed the incident into a case of forgery of official documents.
The player's defense and the context of the crisis
Ramadan Sobhi denied the accusations against him from the outset, asserting his lack of direct involvement in the forgery. His lawyer, Shadi Al-Barqouqi, explained in his defense that the case had received disproportionate media attention due to the player's celebrity status, noting that fame often scrutinizes even ordinary matters. The defense emphasized that the player was fully focused on training and matches, and that the attempt to prove his enrollment at the institute was a procedural requirement for obtaining travel permits related to his military service status—a routine procedure many athletes face to ensure they can accompany their teams to international tournaments.
The impact of the ruling on Ramadan Sobhi's career
This ruling is a lifeline for Ramadan Sobhi's football career, as he is a key player for Pyramids FC. The closure of this case is crucial to allowing the player to fully focus on his performance on the pitch, especially given the intense competition his team faces both domestically and continentally. Egyptian football often faces challenges in balancing educational pursuits with professional commitments, with many stars finding it difficult to juggle rigorous exam schedules, training camps, and frequent travel.
Legally speaking, a “suspended sentence” means that the penalty remains suspended and is considered as if it never happened after the three-year period has passed without any new legal violations being committed. This places a responsibility on the player to fully comply with the law during the coming period to ensure that this crisis is finally put behind him.
