Egyptian outfit Ismaily SC calls for relegation freeze as crisis deepens

Ismaily SC vice president Ali Gheit has called for the cancellation of the Egyptian Premier League, citing the club’s current struggles and historical importance to Egyptian football.

The call comes despite a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Petrojet, a result that offered temporary relief but did little to lift the club from the bottom of the league standings.

Speaking on Mega FM, Gheit made it clear that the club is firmly opposed to the idea of dropping to the second division, urging authorities to repeat last season’s decision to cancel relegation.

“The popular clubs are the soul of the Egyptian league,” Gheit said. “We demand that relegation be cancelled again for one season only.”

He argued that the previous cancellation was not designed to favour Ismaily, but rather to serve broader interests within the league.

“The decision last season was not made for Ismaily, but to protect other clubs and certain interests,” he added.

Gheit warned that relegating a club with Ismaily’s legacy could damage the image and commercial appeal of Egyptian football.

“Ismaily’s relegation would harm the reputation of the league,” he stressed, pointing to the club’s historic fan base and contribution to the domestic game.

He also referenced growing investment opportunities under Egypt’s new sports law, suggesting that maintaining established clubs in the top flight would benefit the league’s long-term development.

In a passionate defence of the club’s position, Gheit claimed that several teams value Ismaily’s presence in the league, even citing Al Ahly SC as an example.

“Clubs love Ismaily. Al Ahly refused the idea of the league without the ‘Darawish’. What harm is there in keeping Ismaily?” he questioned.

Beyond sporting concerns, he also revealed the scale of the club’s financial struggles, disclosing that Ismaily’s accumulated fines have reached approximately 220 million Egyptian pounds.

“We have suffered from very harsh conditions, but we also have a clear plan to settle the club’s debts,” he said.

While the call for relegation cancellation adds a new dimension to the debate, Ismaily’s immediate focus remains on results on the pitch as they battle to escape the drop zone.

Their narrow win over Petrojet could serve as a turning point, but with time running out in the season, both sporting performance and administrative decisions may ultimately shape the club’s fate.

For now, Ismaily’s stance is clear—they are fighting not just for survival on the field, but for a structural lifeline off it as well.