Egyptian FA says one-club licensing request was mistaken for 22-team appeal

The Egyptian Football Association has denied reports that it asked the Ministry of Youth and Sports to give 22 clubs an additional season to complete their legal and administrative requirements before the new campaign begins.

A senior official at the Egyptian Football Association said the reports were entirely inaccurate and that the governing body had sent no official correspondence to the ministry seeking a season-long extension for the 22 clubs.

The official said the situation had been misrepresented. According to the Egyptian Football Association, the request for more time came from a single club which is still facing difficulties in obtaining its legal licence.

The club, whose identity was not disclosed, reportedly applied directly for an extension so it could complete the outstanding procedures required for its licensing position. The Egyptian Football Association did not submit a collective request on behalf of that club or any wider group of teams.

The clarification follows reports suggesting that a large number of clubs could be granted an additional period to bring their affairs into line ahead of the start of the new season.

The official stressed that the Egyptian Football Association was applying the relevant regulations to all clubs without exception. No general application had been made to postpone or extend the deadline for a number of clubs, the official added.

They also said the reports circulating about the matter were not supported by any official documents or correspondence issued by the Egyptian Football Association.

The governing body’s position is that each club must meet the established legal and administrative requirements under the applicable regulations. The only request for extra time referred to by the official was the individual application from the club still working to secure its legal licence.

The official urged greater care when sharing information about club licensing, particularly as preparations continue for the launch of the new season. They called on those following the issue to rely on official sources and to verify reports before publishing or circulating them.

The Egyptian Football Association’s response therefore rejects the suggestion that it sought a blanket, season-long concession for 22 clubs. Instead, it says the discussion arose from one club’s attempt to complete its licensing procedures, rather than from a formal initiative by the national football governing body.

No details were provided about the club involved, the precise nature of the outstanding requirements or the length of any extension it requested. The Egyptian Football Association’s official position, however, is that it has made no collective approach to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and remains committed to applying the licensing regulations across the clubs without preferential treatment.