Mahmoud El Ali

Mahmoud El Ali (Arabic: محمود العلي‎; born on 4 March 1984) is a Lebanese former professional footballer who played as a striker. El Ali represented the Lebanon national team, scoring 12 goals in 46 games, before being banned for life from professional football due to his involvement in the 2013 Lebanese match fixing scandal.

Mahmoud El Ali
Personal information
Full name Mahmoud El Ali
Date of birth (1984-03-04) 4 March 1984
Place of birth Beirut, Lebanon
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Al Rayyan (5)
2005–2013 Ahed (52)
2013 Persiba Balikpapan 16 (3)
Total ? (60)
National team
2007–2012 Lebanon 46 (12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

El Ali began his senior career at Lebanese Premier League club Rayyan Beirut, during the 2004–05 season.[1] The forward scored five goals.[1] In 2005 El Ali moved to Ahed, scoring four goals and helping his side finish in fifth place during the 2005–06 season.[1] The following season (2006–07), El Ali improved on his previous season's numbers, scoring 12 goals.[1] However, Ahed finished in fifth place once again.[1] In 2007–08, El Ali helped his side win their first league title, scoring three goals.[1]

The following three seasons, El Ali lifted two more league titles (2009–10 and 2010–11),[1] two Lebanese FA Cups (2008–09 and 2010–11),[1][2] three Lebanese Elite Cups (2008, 2010, and 2011),[2] and three Lebanese Super Cups (2008, 2010, 2011).[2] The forward was also part of the Lebanese Premier League Team of the Season for two consecutive seasons, in 2010–11 and 2011–12.[3]

In January 2013, El Ali moved to Indonesian Liga 1 side Persiba Balikpapan.[4][5] He scored three goals in 16 league games.[6] On 26 February 2013, El Ali was accused of illegal betting on several national and continental games concerning Lebanese teams and the national team.[7] He was banned for life from football and was fined $15,000.[7] Following El Ali's involvement in the 2013 Lebanese match-fixing scandal, on 26 April 2013, Persiba Balikpapan terminated El Ali's contract with the club.[8]

International career

El Ali made his international debut for Lebanon 16 June 2007, at the 2007 WAFF Championship, against Syria; Lebanon lost 1–0.[9] The Lebanese forward's first international goal came on 23 September 2007, in a friendly against the United Arab Emirates (UAE); the match finished in a 1–1 draw.[9] On 17 July 2011, El Ali scored his first, and only, international brace; he scored twice against the UAE in a friendly.[9]

In 2013, El Ali was accused of match fixing a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Qatar, on 14 November 2012, purposely throwing the match in the opponents favour.[8] Lebanon lost 1–0. Following the investigations, on 24 April 2013 El Ali was banned for life from the sport.[7] El Ali scored 12 goals in 46 appearances for the national team, and retired as Lebanon's fifth all time top-goalscorer to date.[10]

Career statistics

International
List of international goals scored by Mahmoud El Ali
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
123 September 2007Dubai, United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates1–1DrawFriendly
28 October 2007Saida, Lebanon India4–1Win2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification
32 January 2008Kuwait City, Kuwait Kuwait2–3LossFriendly
49 April 2008Beirut, Lebanon Maldives4–0Win2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
57 June 2008Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia1–4Loss2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification
621 January 2009Phuket, Thailand Thailand2–1Loss2009 King's Cup
76 January 2010Sidon, Lebanon Vietnam1–1Draw2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
817 July 2011Al Ain, United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates2–6LossFriendly
9
1023 July 2011Beirut, Lebanon Bangladesh4–0Win2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification
1111 November 2011Kuwait City, Kuwait Kuwait1–0Win2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification
1229 February 2012Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates2–4Loss2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Honours and achievements

Club
Ahed

Individual

Awards

References
  1. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Mahmoud El-Ali". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  2. "Lebanon - List of Cup Winners". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  3. "معتوق أفضل لاعب لبناني وحيدر يطالب بإصلاحات". الأخبار (in Arabic). Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  4. "Pelatih Persiba : Striker Lebanon , Mahmoud El Ali Cerdik dan bertenaga". 12paz.blogspot.com. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  5. "Persiba Bakal Andalkan Duet Striker Timnas Lebanon". www.bola.net. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  6. "Mahmoud El Ali". ligaindonesia.co.id. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  7. "Lebanon National Football team players Mahmoud al-Ali, Ramez Dyoub banned for life, fined USD 15,000 for manipulating results". LBCI Lebanon. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  8. Media, Kompas Cyber. "Persiba Balikpapan Segera Pecat Mahmoud El Ali". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  9. "Mahmoud El-Ali - International Appearances". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  10. "Lebanon - Record International Players". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
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