Former Al Ahly President: We Lost the League to Zamalek Due to Refereeing

In controversial statements, Mahmoud Taher, the former chairman of Al Ahly SC, launched a scathing attack on the sports system at the time, firmly asserting that the Red Giants' loss of the league title during his tenure was a direct result of a series of impactful refereeing mistakes, alongside what he described as clear obstinacy from the Egyptian Football Association against Al Ahly.

Mahmoud Taher stated in an interview with the Emirates-based Al Sharq network: "It was not possible for Ramadan Sobhi to continue at Al Ahly. He was a young and talented player, and he received an offer to play abroad with a salary he would not have received in Egypt. If I had insisted on his staying, I would have done him a disservice, and also harmed Egyptian football."

He added: "If Ramadan Sobhi had continued his professional career in Europe, he would be a key player for the Egypt national team today. It was difficult for Ramadan Sobhi to stay at Al Ahly while he was not mentally able to play, feeling that he had not received his due."

He continued: "That would have been unfair to the player, and it would have represented an economic loss for the club, as I received an offer of $6 million, and I knew I wouldn't be able to get that amount if he didn't leave, so the best solution was to agree to his transfer."

Regarding Gabonese Malick Evouna, he said: "He suffered a fracture in his foot, and I received an offer to sign him while he is injured and receiving treatment in Switzerland, worth €8 million, even though Al Ahly had contracted him for only $2 million, and the offer was from a Chinese club."

He added: "I want the angry fans regarding that transfer to tell me what the player has done since leaving Al Ahly? He failed in China and hardly participated in any full match."

He added: "During my time as club president, we only lost one league title, and that was due to certain circumstances, most notably the injury of our top scorer Amr Gamal, along with a stubborn stance from the Football Association at that time. We filed several complaints, and the refereeing was not in our favor."