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Egyptian football giants Al Ahly, the African champions, refused to take part in their Egyptian Premier League match against rivals Zamalek on Tuesday, demanding foreign officials for the game.
Scheduled for 9:30 pm (1930 GMT) at Cairo Stadium, Al Ahly’s bus redirected to their own training pitch instead, as the club’s board insisted they would not participate unless a foreign refereeing team was assigned. The club claims the current level of officiating has caused ongoing crises for Egyptian football clubs.
In a statement, the Al Ahly board described the situation as “clear chaos” within the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and the Premier League, criticizing the lack of coordination between the two bodies. They also threatened to withdraw from the league if their demand for foreign referees was not met.
Al Ahly, currently in second place in the league, has committed to postponing the match until the Egyptian Football Association complies with the request. However, the EFA rejected the demand, citing time constraints.
Al Ahly, coached by Marcel Koller, are preparing for their participation in the World Club Cup in the United States, where they will face Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on June 14.
