Egyptian Referees Committee chief Essam Abdel Fattah defends Slovenian referee after Al Ahly-Zamalek controversy

Head of the referees committee Essam Abdel Fattah has defended the appointment of Slovenian officials for the Egyptian Premier League clash between Al Ahly and Zamalek, insisting that the referee was qualified to handle a match of such magnitude.

Al Ahly secured a 2-0 victory over their arch-rivals in the sixth round of the Egyptian top-flight, but the game sparked controversy after Zamalek lodged an official complaint over the officiating.

The White Knights claimed that several decisions went against them, including two penalty incidents they believe should have been awarded in their favour, while also questioning the handling of other situations involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Responding to the criticism on On Sport Radio, Abdel Fattah explained that his role was to assess Egyptian referees rather than evaluate foreign officials, while maintaining that the committee was doing its best.

“It is not for me to evaluate foreign referees, but I evaluate Egyptian referees and we discuss the difference. The referees committee is doing the best it can,” he said.

Abdel Fattah acknowledged that decisions were made by the Slovenian referee during the high-profile encounter, suggesting that the outcome of certain situations could have differed had officials from other countries or continents been in charge.

“Certainly, there were decisions made by the Slovenian referee in the summit match. If the referee had been Egyptian, African, or from South America, the decisions might have been different,” he added.

Addressing Zamalek’s complaint that the referee was below the required standard, Abdel Fattah pointed to the official’s experience in major international fixtures.

“This referee officiated the Belgium vs. France match in the UEFA Nations League during the international break. Is it possible that a match of this value should not be officiated by an elite referee?” he questioned.

The referees committee chief also reiterated his preference for Egyptian officials to be trusted with major domestic fixtures, arguing that local referees should be given greater responsibility rather than routinely relying on foreign appointments.

He further explained that financial considerations influence the selection of European referees over their South American counterparts, noting that the cost of airfare alone for officials travelling from South America can be substantial.

The controversy surrounding the Cairo derby has renewed debate over referee appointments in Egyptian football, with Zamalek demanding accountability while the referees committee maintains its position on the selection of experienced foreign officials.