Mohamed Abdel Jalil, the former Al Ahly star, criticized Zamalek's stance on requesting to play the summit match against Al Ahly with Egyptian referees.

Mohamed Abdel Jalil stated in television remarks: "I am very surprised by Zamalek's position on not requesting foreign referees for the summit match, despite their complaints about the referees in a press conference and through statements, meaning you were complaining about the officiating."

He added: "Egyptian football has recently become accustomed to crises, and I feared on Tuesday evening that the scenario of the 95 match would be repeated, after three referees were warming up on the pitch to officiate the match at that time."

The match between Al Ahly and Zamalek was scheduled to take place yesterday, Tuesday, in the first round of the decisive phase of the Premier League, but Al Ahly did not attend the match.

Al Ahly refused to play the match due to its insistence on bringing in foreign referees to officiate the match.