After defeat to Al Ahly, Zamalek files complaint over refereeing

After losing the top-of-the-table clash against Al Ahly, Zamalek has decided to file an official complaint with the Federation against the central referees committee. The club, chaired by Hussein Labib, is protesting the decisions made during the match. Following the game, Zamalek has 13 points, while Al Ahly has 16 and leads the competition standings.

In a statement, Zamalek said the refereeing had affected the course and outcome of the match, nullifying the efforts of the players and technical staff. The club holds the committee responsible for selecting the Slovenian team that officiated the game.

Zamalek added that several refereeing experts believed the team should have been awarded two penalties. The club also objected to several situations in its favour not being reviewed with video assistance. It described the refereeing team’s level as “unknown and well below the value of the match”, then denounced “a series of decisions clearly and deliberately directed against Zamalek, which affected the course and result of the match”.

The club also accused the committee of yielding to pressure before the start of the championship and favouring one side at Zamalek’s expense. It criticised the committee’s management and its choices of refereeing teams. To support its criticism, it pointed to the Slovenian referee’s errors in the top-of-the-table clash.

Zamalek said it was seeking to protect the rights of the club and its supporters, while maintaining its previous position: it does not question the integrity of the refereeing system as a whole. The club nevertheless called on committee officials to reconsider their choices and take responsibility to ensure fairness in matches. It said it “will not stand idly by and knows exactly how to protect the rights of the club and its supporters”.

The defeat leaves Zamalek on 13 points, behind Al Ahly, now top with 16. The announced complaint puts the refereeing dispute in focus after the clash between the two teams.