The Egyptian Football Federation (EFF) has announced its intention to appoint foreign match officials for the upcoming Egypt Cup final between Al Ahly and Zamalek.
The decision was disclosed by Ehab El-Komy, a member of the EFF’s board, who revealed that several European and Latin American football associations have been contacted to select a foreign refereeing team for the prestigious final.
Scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia on the upcoming Friday, the final for the 2022-2023 season of the Egypt Cup has drawn significant attention, prompting the EFF to seek assistance from overseas.
El-Komy explained the rationale behind the decision, stating, “While we hold our Egyptian referees in high regard, the summit clash demands a unique approach.
We have opted to enlist the services of a foreign officiating team to alleviate pressure on our Egyptian referees.”
Acknowledging the time constraints involved in finalizing the refereeing arrangements, El-Komy expressed confidence in securing a response from the European and Latin American football associations promptly.
Responding to queries regarding the reported reluctance of Mohamed Farouk, head of the referees’ committee, to endorse the appointment of foreign referees for the cup final, El-Komy clarified, “We prioritize the welfare of our Egyptian referees above all else.
Farouk initially favored appointing Egyptian referees, but faced opposition from the clubs.
Our decision aims to support our referees, and Farouk understands the situation.”
