Al Ahly coach Jess Thorup slams officiating after 1-1 draw against Ceramica Cleopatra

Al Ahly head coach Jess Thorup has slammed match officials following his side’s 1-1 draw with Ceramica Cleopatra in the Egyptian Premier League.

The two teams shared the points at the Arab Contractors Stadium in the opening round of the Championship stage, but Thorup felt his side were denied a crucial victory.

“It’s difficult to be here with the feeling that we lost two points,” he said after the game, pointing to a late incident he believes should have resulted in a penalty.

“There was a penalty that should have been given, but it wasn’t. The ball came from around 20 meters and struck the defender’s hand. That is a clear penalty. I understand the referee might argue the ball was close, but the distance was significant.”

Thorup also acknowledged the emotional reactions of his players following the result, noting that frustration is inevitable when decisions appear to go against them.

“We are not supposed to lose our composure and pick up cards after the match, but I understand the players’ frustration,” he explained.

The Danish coach stressed that fine margins cost his team, adding that they had expected a tighter contest.

“We told the players before the match that small details decide games. When there is a sense of unfairness, frustration grows, and I completely understand that,” he said.

On the performance itself, Thorup highlighted his side’s dominance in front of goal compared to their opponents.

“Ceramica had one shot in 85 minutes and scored from it, while we needed several chances to find a goal,” he noted.

He also turned his attention to the playing surface, expressing concern over its quality in a competition of this scale.

“I don’t understand how we are playing in the Egyptian Premier League, especially at this stage of the competition, on a pitch in this condition,” he said. “For the sake of the fans and the competition, it should be better.”

Thorup concluded by reaffirming his focus on his coaching responsibilities, while maintaining that standards across the league must improve.