Referee Ahmed El-Ghandour threatens retirement amid explosive Egyptian FA silence row

Egyptian referee Ahmed El-Ghandour has launched a fierce public attack on the Referees Committee of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), expressing deep frustration over what he describes as months of “complete silence” and professional neglect following his continued exclusion from officiating duties without explanation.

Speaking on the “Kora Ma’a Fayek” show on MBC Masr, El-Ghandour revealed growing anger over his situation, warning that he may be forced to retire if the issue remains unresolved.

El-Ghandour stated that he has been removed from match appointments since last December, without receiving any official reason or clarification from the refereeing authorities.

According to him, repeated attempts to understand the decision have been met with silence, leaving him in what he described as a state of “complete disregard.”

He insisted that even after formal communication channels were used, no response was provided by the committee responsible for managing referees in Egyptian football.

The referee revealed that he, along with fellow official Mahmoud El-Banna, submitted an official memorandum to former Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhi, outlining their concerns and requesting intervention.

The document was reportedly forwarded to the EFA and later referred to the Referees Committee, but El-Ghandour claims the situation still did not improve.

He emphasized that despite following all official procedures, no resolution or clarification has been provided.

El-Ghandour also disclosed that he was summoned for questioning on February 2, following a social media post in which he appealed to the Presidency of the Republic and publicly stated that he felt unjustly treated.

He said he fully cooperated with the investigation and presented all relevant details during the hearing.

However, what followed, he claims, was further silence. Between February 2 and February 9, he sent official emails requesting updates on the outcome of the investigation—but received no reply.

“For the past four months, I have been talking to myself, which is very unfortunate. It is sad that you cannot find any official to respond to you.” He said.

His comments highlight a growing internal crisis within the refereeing structure, with concerns about transparency, communication, and administrative fairness.

El-Ghandour concluded his remarks with a strong warning, stating that he is still waiting for clarity—but may soon step away from officiating altogether if the situation does not change.

“If things continue like this, I will officially announce my retirement very soon. I am holding on to my right and I will not accept injustice.”

His statement now places pressure on the EFA referees committee to respond publicly, as one of the country’s well-known referees considers an early exit from the game amid an escalating governance dispute.