Zamalek derby director says stadium audio was not his responsibility

Walid Farouk, the director of the broadcast of the Egyptian Premier League derby between Zamalek and Al Ahly, says he was not responsible for controlling the stadium sound during the match.

Al Ahly beat Zamalek 2-0 in the sixth round of the league, but Zamalek subsequently filed an official complaint with the Supreme Council for Media against Farouk.

The club accused him of deliberately broadcasting offensive chants from Al Ahly supporters during the match.

Farouk told FilGoal.com: “It is not my responsibility to turn the stadium sound on or off during the match.”

He said he had discussed the arrangements with officials at On Sport before kick-off and made clear that the stadium microphones would remain open, as is usual for matches played in front of large crowds.

“I contacted the officials at On Sport before the match and informed them that the stadium microphones were open, as usual in matches with supporters,” he said.

Farouk added: “They close the sound if necessary.”

The result was Al Ahly’s 53rd league victory over Zamalek. Zamalek have won 29 of the Egyptian Premier League meetings, while the two sides have drawn 51 times.

Al Ahly have now won the derby in four successive matches across all competitions.

The defeat also meant Motamed Gamal has yet to beat Al Ahly in his two matches as Zamalek manager. His side lost 3-0 last season before suffering a 2-0 defeat in the latest meeting.

For Houcine Ammouta, meanwhile, the victory represented a winning start to his first derby against Zamalek.

Al Ahly’s win moved them temporarily to the top of the table on 16 points. Zamalek suffered their first defeat of the campaign but remained third on 13 points.

Zamalek’s next match will be away against the Rwandan Army on Friday, 16 October, in the first leg of the round of 32 in the CAF Champions League.