Zamalek’s Bentayg anger addressed as League Association explains Man of the Match decision

The Egyptian Football Association’s League Association says its choice of Man of the Match is based solely on technical criteria, after Zamalek defender Mahmoud Bentayg was reportedly unhappy at missing out on the award against Abu Qir Fertilizers.

Zamalek goalkeeper Mehdi Soliman was selected as the outstanding player following his side’s 2-0 victory over Abu Qir Fertilizers.

A source within the League Association told FilGoal.com: “Bentayg’s anger? We do not have any considerations when choosing the best player in each match. The decision is made according to purely technical criteria, and the evidence is the selection of his compatriot Ashraf Bencharki, the Al Ahly player, in two consecutive matches.”

The source said Bentayg’s reaction was understood because of the effort he had put into the match, but rejected any suggestion that nationality had influenced the decision.

“We understand the player’s anger because of the effort he made and consider it ‘a flash of temper on the pitch’, but the matter is completely unrelated to the nationality of any player,” the source added.

Bentayg, who plays for Zamalek, provided both assists in the win over Abu Qir Fertilizers. Mohamed Ismail and Ahmed Sherif scored the goals as Zamalek secured victory in the fourth round of the league.

The result moved Zamalek on to 10 points. They have recorded three wins and one draw, with the stalemate coming against Al Ittihad in the opening round.

The League Association pointed to Bencharki’s recent awards as an indication that its selections are not affected by concerns over players’ nationalities. The Morocco international, who represents Al Ahly, was named Man of the Match twice in succession in games involving الشرقية انبي and ZED.

That comparison was used to answer the criticism surrounding Bentayg’s failure to receive the award, despite his significant contribution to Zamalek’s latest victory. His two assists directly led to the goals against Abu Qir Fertilizers, while Soliman was judged to have been the match’s most influential player under the association’s technical assessment.

The comments came in response to reports of anger from Bentayg after the award was given to his team-mate. The League Association said such frustration was a natural reaction to the intensity of the game rather than evidence of an unfair or nationality-based process.

Zamalek’s win maintained their strong start to the league campaign, with 10 points collected from their first four matches. Their only dropped points came in the opening-round draw against Al Ittihad, while victories over the other three opponents included the success against Abu Qir Fertilizers.