Egypt’s international goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary will miss the third round of the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Rwanda after being handed a four-month ban by the world football body, Fifa.

According to goal.com, Egyptian club, Al Ahly, claimed over the weekend that world football ruling body Fifa have banned international goalkeeper El-Hadary for four months and fined him, following his controversial transfer to Swiss club FC Sion last year.

"Fifa’s Dispute Resolution Chamber decided to ban El-Hadary for four months and fine him €900, 000 but is yet to communicate to both sides.

"The respective parties will be notified of the decision taken by Fifa in due course.”,” Ahly disclosed in a statement on their website.

"El-Hadary will start serving the ban in August. Sion will be also prohibited from signing any players for two transfer windows.”

El-Hadary has rowed with Ahly officials and fans alike since joining Sion without the club’s approval in February 2008.

Ahly took the case to Fifa seeking compensation. However, the goalkeeper has all along insisted he did not have a case to answer.

"Ahly officials are talking nonsense. They spread rumours about alleged suspension and wait for any chance to slaughter me,” El-Hadary said last week.

But if the Cairo side’s claims are true, it will be a huge blow for Egypt as he will be unavailable for the World Cup qualifiers against Algeria, Rwanda and Zambia.

El-Hadary shocked Ahly when he left for Europe shortly after Egypt’s successful Nations Cup campaign in Ghana in February 2008. He claimed Fifa regulations allowed him to make the switch.

Ends