 He also refereed in two FIFA World Cups, France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002.In the South Korea vs. Spain match in the 2002 World Cup, he controversially disallowed two Spanish goals and his linesmen—one Ugandan, the other Trinidadian—judged one Spanish attack after another to be offside.He is also the first Egyptian referee to play as a professional referee (Japanese League 1999).