Essam Abdel Fattah vows to prove ‘Egyptians can run their own affairs’ after taking charge of referees’ committee

Essam Abdel Fattah says he is determined to show that “Egyptians can run their own affairs” after being appointed head of the Egyptian Football Association’s referees’ committee, succeeding Colombian official Oscar Ruiz.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has confirmed Abdel Fattah as the new chairman of the body responsible for overseeing refereeing in domestic competitions, following the departure of Ruiz and his technical team.

Speaking to FilGoal.com after his appointment, Abdel Fattah thanked the EFA leadership for their confidence and underlined his determination to meet expectations in the role.

“I thank the Football Association, and God willing I will be up to the responsibility,” he said.

Call for unity within refereeing ranks

Abdel Fattah stressed that his priority will be to build unity among Egyptian match officials and to reaffirm trust in local referees’ ability to manage the game at the highest level.

“I extend my hand to cooperate with every member of the refereeing family so that we are united as one,” he said. “We want to prove to everyone that Egyptians are capable of running their own affairs.”

He also set out an immediate timetable for preparations ahead of the new season, revealing that training camps for referees are expected to begin in the first week of August.

“Referees’ camps will start on either 2 or 3 August at the latest,” he explained, indicating that the detailed planning for those gatherings is already under way.

Close contest for key position

Abdel Fattah’s appointment follows a period of uncertainty over who would replace Ruiz as head of the committee.

A source within the Egyptian Football Association had earlier told FilGoal.com that the race for the position had come down to two candidates: former international referee Abdel Fattah and fellow ex-referee Samir Mahmoud Osman.

The EFA has now opted for Abdel Fattah, who returns to a role he has previously occupied and who is seen by the federation as well placed to lead a renewed push to strengthen refereeing standards.

End of Oscar Ruiz era

Ruiz, the former FIFA referee from Colombia, had been appointed to lead the Egyptian referees’ committee in February of last year as part of an effort to bring in foreign expertise and modernise officiating structures.

The EFA recently announced the departure of the entire committee headed by Ruiz, as well as the associated technical panel that worked alongside him.

In a brief statement, the federation expressed its gratitude to Ruiz and his colleagues, thanking the outgoing committee “for the effort it made during the past season”.

Abdel Fattah will now be tasked with building on that work while putting a distinctly Egyptian stamp on the refereeing set-up, as he seeks to deliver on his pledge that local officials are fully capable of managing the game themselves.