Abou Rida explains move For Colombian referee instructor Oscar Ruiz

Hani Abou Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Association, reaffirmed his full backing for Egypt’s two national teams ahead of a crucial year, with the first team heading to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and a second squad competing in the Arab Cup.

He stressed that both groups must “give everything” to make Egyptian fans happy and revealed that spending on the national team has “multiplied massively” due to high costs for training camps and match organisation.

Abou Rida told the FA’s general assembly that Egypt is investing heavily in talent ID, with 27 regional branches tasked with discovering players and a raft of ideas on the table to modernise the entire football system. He criticised the fact the national team still pays to use state-owned stadiums and confirmed he has raised the issue with the Minister of Youth and Sports.

On the congested calendar, he explained that moving AFCON from June to December because of the expanded Club World Cup created a clash with the Arab Cup. Some voices had called for skipping the Arab Cup, but Egypt chose instead to send a different squad under Helmy Toulan, despite clubs like Pyramids FC being reluctant to release several key players.

Abou Rida said he recently visited the Arab Cup squad in Qatar and felt real determination to deliver performances worthy of Egyptian football. He also highlighted efforts to upgrade youth structures, especially the under-17s, after FIFA’s decision to hold the U-17 World Cup every year rather than every two years.

Crucially, he revealed why the federation hired high-profile Colombian referee instructor Oscar Ruiz as foreign head of the referees’ committee. The goal, he said, is to reduce clubs’ complaints about officiating, align with FIFA and CAF standards, and continue the clear improvement already seen in refereeing levels since the start of the current season.

The assembly also approved key governance changes, including a cap of three terms for board positions, ratification of financial statements and postponing the addition of 61 new clubs to the FA’s general assembly while allowing them to keep competing. Abou Rida underlined that coaching education, licences and courses have been revamped with FIFA and CAF support so that Egyptian coaches can manage top-level games “without the problems” that plagued previous eras.