Egyptian giants Zamalek have lodged an official complaint with the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) following their defeat to arch-rivals Al Ahly in the Cairo Derby.
The club expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating, questioning the referee’s standard and accusing the match official of making decisions that disadvantaged their team.
In their complaint, Zamalek described the appointed referee as relatively unknown and below the standard required to officiate a high-profile encounter of such magnitude.
The club also alleged that several decisions during the match were deliberately biased against them, raising concerns about the overall quality of the officiating.
Zamalek further claimed that, after consulting several refereeing experts, they believed they should have been awarded two penalties during the encounter.
Another major concern raised by the Egyptian club was the alleged failure to use the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review several crucial incidents that could have influenced the outcome of the derby.
The club has consequently held the referees’ committee responsible for the defeat, insisting that the officiating played a significant role in the result.
The complaint places the spotlight on the standard of refereeing in Egyptian football, with Zamalek seeking accountability over the decisions made during one of the country’s most closely watched football rivalries.
However, the allegations remain the club’s position, and further details about the Egyptian Football Association’s response to the complaint have yet to be established.
