Some of Egypt’s players are facing fines and bans for doing unauthorised interviews during the World Cup, Egypt Football Association chief Hany Abo Rida has revealed.

Reportedly, several players took money, up to $5,000, to do interviews with a Saudi-0wned TV channel.

“I instructed Ihab Leheita [the Egypt national team director] to take a firm stance over the interviews that were done for a satellite television channel,” Rida said earlier this week, according to Egyptian daily Ahram.

“These interviews violate the [EFA’s] sponsorship deals,” he added. “Some players will be internationally banned for up to a year and will also be fined.”

Rida did not reveal which players were being reprimanded.

The news caps off a disappointing tournament for Egypt, who lost all three of their games in their first appearance at football’s showpiece event since 1990.