Pyramids complain to Egyptian FA over referee’s decisions in Eastern Company win

Pyramids have filed an official complaint with the Egyptian Football Association against referee Ibrahim Mohamed following their Egyptian Premier League match against Eastern Company.

Pyramids came from behind to win 2-1 in the fifth round, but the club said the referee and his assistants made serious errors which could have influenced the result and cost them important points in the title race.

In a statement issued through the club’s media centre, Pyramids said the match officials made a series of poor decisions, including several incorrect calls and a number of unnecessary bookings.

The club also criticised the assistant referee for raising his flag for offside before an attacking move had finished, arguing that the decision threatened to deny Pyramids a chance to score their second goal.

Pyramids further claimed that Ibrahim Mohamed wrongly stopped a clear one-on-one opportunity for Youssef Obama by awarding a handball. The club said the ball had struck Obama’s head, while the assistant referee was close to the incident and had not indicated any infringement.

According to the complaint, Obama was not allowed to continue the move and attempt to score what Pyramids described as a certain goal before the incident could be reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee.

The club also accused the referee of failing to award a clear penalty after an apparent handball inside the area. Pyramids said the incident occurred directly in front of the referee and involved the player’s hand being clearly away from the body, while the Video Assistant Referee supported the decision not to award a spot-kick despite what the club described as the clarity of the incident.

Pyramids also objected to a foul and yellow card given to Walid El Karti. The club said El Karti had played the ball first and requested that the booking be cancelled because it was incorrect.

The complaint called on the Egyptian Football Association and its Referees Committee to take account of Pyramids’ position at the top of the league since the start of the competition.

Pyramids said that fairness and equality required the club to have elite and international-list referees appointed to its matches, as is the case with its direct rivals for the title.

Ibrahim Mohamed showed six yellow cards to Pyramids players during the match, while Pyramids manager Rollani Mokwena was also booked.

The victory left Pyramids top of the Egyptian Premier League with 15 points from five wins. Their next match will be against Ceramica Cleopatra after the international break.