Egyptian FA unveils referee development plan for 2026-27 season

The Egyptian Football Association has confirmed the formation of its refereeing committee for the 2026-27 season, with former referee Essam Abdel-Fattah appointed as chairman.

The announcement follows the earlier disclosure by FilGoal.com that a separate committee had been established to oversee the development of referees. The development committee will be chaired by Gamal El-Ghandour, who will also serve as deputy chairman of the main refereeing committee.

Details of how the committee will divide its responsibilities have now emerged, with its work covering video assistant referees, match referees and assistant referees.

Mohamed El-Sabahi will work alongside Mahmoud Ashour, a member of the main refereeing committee, on the development of referees operating in video technology.

The group’s remit will focus on referees involved in the use of VAR, with El-Sabahi and Ashour assigned to support their improvement during the new campaign.

Mahmoud El Banna, Mohamed El Hanafi and Mohamed Youssef will be responsible for working directly with referees to help develop their performances.

A separate team has been appointed to work with assistant referees. Ayman Dgish and Hany Abdel-Fattah will oversee that part of the programme.

All of the development work will take place under the supervision of El-Ghandour.

The appointments form part of the preparations for the new Egyptian football season, with the refereeing committee’s structure now set under the leadership of Essam Abdel-Fattah and its development programme coordinated by El-Ghandour.

The Egyptian Premier League draw for the 2026-27 season is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 5 August.

The announcement of the draw date comes as the Egyptian Football Association finalises arrangements for the forthcoming campaign and implements its newly outlined approach to referee development.

The committee’s responsibilities have therefore been split according to refereeing roles: Mohamed El-Sabahi and Mahmoud Ashour will focus on VAR officials; Mahmoud El Banna, Mohamed El Hanafi and Mohamed Youssef will work with referees; and Ayman Dgish and Hany Abdel-Fattah will work with assistant referees.

El-Ghandour will have overall oversight of the development operation, while Abdel-Fattah will lead the Egyptian refereeing committee for the season ahead.

The details were published on Monday, 3 August 2026, in a report by Mohamed Gamal.