Egyptian football giants and reigning African champions, Al Ahly, refused to show up for their much-anticipated league clash against arch-rivals Zamalek on Tuesday, citing concerns over officiating standards.
Despite the Egyptian Premier League scheduling the match for 9:30 PM (1930 GMT) at Cairo Stadium, Al Ahly’s team bus took a detour—heading to their training ground instead, local media reported.
The club had earlier issued a firm stance, insisting they would only participate if foreign referees were assigned to the game. According to Al Ahly’s board of directors, the current state of officiating in Egyptian football is causing “constant crises,” and they demanded reforms before returning to league action.
In response, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) rejected their demand, citing time constraints, leading to Al Ahly’s no-show. The club remains adamant that they will not play until their request is granted.
Al Ahly, currently second in the league, are preparing for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where they will face Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in their opening match on June 14.
