Strong Statements from Essam Abdel Fattah, Head of Referees Committee

Essam Abdel Fattah, the head of the Referees Committee at the Football Association, stated that there are currently only three Egyptian referees qualified to officiate the Cairo derby between Al Ahly and Zamalek. He emphasized that this historic clash requires an outstanding officiating team, possessing a strong character and a high ability to withstand the immense pressures imposed by fans and the media.

The head of the referees committee reaffirmed the commitment to local referees for managing the upcoming high-stakes match, completely ruling out the use of foreign officiating crews. In his statements during the "Beit Al-Koura" program aired on the official page of the Football Association, he emphasized that national talents remain the first and lightest option in the selection balance, due to the full support and great confidence in the qualifications of Egyptian referees to bring the match to a safe conclusion.

The head of the Referee Committee stated that he does not oppose clubs being informed about what happens inside the Video Assistant Referee room, provided that clear regulations are established by the Football Association. He emphasized that the committee aims to achieve the highest level of transparency in dealing with controversial refereeing situations.

A new plan has been announced to raise the level of transparency by publishing periodic reviews every week or two to assess controversial refereeing cases and clarify correct and incorrect decisions. Despite the commitment to impose suspension penalties on errant referees, the committee will adhere to international standards that stipulate keeping the names of penalized referees and the details of their sanctions confidential, without disclosing them to the media.

The Chairman of the Referees Committee has called on clubs to grant the committee some time to work on developing the officiating system, emphasizing that he operates under significant pressure, yet remains focused on the interests of Egyptian refereeing. He insists on hard work and adherence to what his conscience dictates.

The head of the Referee Committee concluded his remarks by sending a message of appreciation to all football clubs, particularly Al Ahly, stressing the adoption of a public and clear approach to reviewing and examining controversial officiating incidents throughout the tournament. He reiterated the committee's commitment to supporting match officials to provide them with the necessary backing, while applying the principle of accountability and imposing the stipulated penalties against any referee found to have committed significant errors.