EGYPT star Mohamed El-Shenawy has been slapped with a heavy ban and a fine after striking a referee during a league match.

El-Shenawy, 37, was on the bench during Tuesday’s Egyptian Premier League match between his Al Ahly side and Ceramica Cleopatra, which ended 1-1.

A close-up of a soccer player from the Egypt vs Benin Africa Cup of Nations match.Egypt star Mohamed El-Shanawy has been slapped with a heavy ban and a fine after striking a referee

The goalkeeper was left furious after his team was denied a penalty for a handball during stoppage time.

The international then assaulted a referee on the head in shocking scenes.

It was then announced that El-Shenawy was penalised with a four-match ban and a fine of 50,000 Egyptian pounds (£700).

A league statement read: “A four-match ban and fine of 50,000 Egyptian pounds for assaulting the referee by pushing or pulling [use of the hand without violence].”

El-Shenawy will now be sidelined until the final week of the league play-offs.

The experienced player was Egypt’s first-choice goalkeeper at the .

And the Egyptian shot-stopper is now expected to be part of his national team for this summer’s in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Egypt have been drawn in Group G with , New Zealand and Iran.

Hossam Hassan’s side will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 15 against the Belgian national team at the Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

Egypt will be led by departing superstar , who will be looking for a new club come June when his .

El-Shenawy’s Al Ahly are currently third in the Egyptian Premier League table with three points separating them from leaders Zamalek.