Egyptian football legend Hossam Hassan released from jail

Egyptian football legend Hossam Hassan has been released after a four-day prison sentence for assaulting a photographer during a scuffle at the end of a match early July.

He also paid a fine of 500 Egyptian pounds (about 50 euros) before he was released from the Tora prison in Cairo where he had been earlier in the week, Egyptian media report.

The former captain of the Egyptian national team and coach of local club Al-Masry has also picked up three match suspensions from the Egyptian Football Federation and a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds (about 1,000 euros) for misconduct.

The incident that caused the Egyptian football legend and other two members of his club’s staff the trouble, occured during a Friday match between local clubs Al-Masry and Ghazl el-Mahalla in Ismailia, a city in the east of Cairo.

During the fixture, clashes broke out on the field between players and during the violence, Hossam Hassan assaulted the photographer who was taking pictures of the event.

The photographer was actually an agent of the Ministry of Interior who later filed a complaint against Hossam Hassan and the other two members of the Al-Masry staff.

The club was also fined by the Egyptian Football Federation 20,000 Egyptian pounds (about 2,000 euros) for the incident.

Considered one of the best players in the history of the Pharaohs, Hossam Hassan who has been capped 176 times with 69 goals to his credit is known for his fiery temperament.

The former striker has played for the two local giants Al Alhy and Zamalek, with whom he won 14 championships in Egypt and two Champions League.

With Egyptian Pharaohs, he was crowned three times African champion (1986, 1998, 2006) .