Former Premier League footballer Ramadan Sobhi has been handed a 12-month prison sentence with hard labour by an Egyptian court for his involvement in an exam fraud case.
Court Conviction and Charges
The 28-year-old winger, who played for Stoke City and Huddersfield Town in England, was convicted alongside a second defendant at the Giza Criminal Court. The charges related to allegations of falsifying official documents and arranging for another person to sit exams on his behalf at a private institute for tourism and hospitality in Giza Governorate.
The arrest took place in July, with the court delivering its verdict recently. According to reports from Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Sobhi's legal representative was not immediately available for comment following the sentencing. However, it is understood that an appeal against the conviction could be launched.
A Premier League Career Cut Short
Ramadan Sobhi moved to English football in 2016 when he signed for Stoke City from Egyptian giants Al Ahly. He made his Premier League debut as a late substitute in a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in August of that year.
During his time at the bet365 Stadium, Sobhi was primarily a squad player but enjoyed a run of six consecutive league starts between February and April 2017. He provided an assist against Crystal Palace and later scored in consecutive matches against West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield Town in December 2017.
He made 46 appearances for Stoke before a transfer to Huddersfield Town in 2018. His spell in Yorkshire was brief, featuring only four times before he returned to Egypt permanently in September 2020 to join Pyramids FC.
International Career and Further Controversy
On the international stage, Sobhi has been a regular for Egypt, earning 37 caps. He featured in all three of Egypt's group matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and also played at the 2020 Olympic Games.
His most recent appearance for the Pharaohs was as a substitute in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final victory over Cameroon in 2022. At club level, he helped Pyramids FC win the CAF Confederation Cup last season.
However, Sobhi's career is currently in further jeopardy. He is facing a separate four-year suspension from football after the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed violations of anti-doping rules in November.
