Al Ittihad Alexandria Club outraged by refereeing in loss to Gouna

Al Ittihad Alexandria Club’s board released a strongly worded statement following their team’s 2-0 defeat to Gouna in the Egyptian Premier League.

Club president Mohamed Ahmed Salama voiced deep frustration at the officiating, saying controversial referee decisions directly influenced the outcome and left many questions about the standards in place.

The statement detailed several incidents: A Gouna defender caught Union striker Fady Farid in the face with an elbow in the penalty area, but the referee neither awarded a penalty nor consulted VAR. Shortly after, Union’s Karim El Deeb was sent off for a similar challenge, a move the club labeled inconsistent and unfair since both incidents involved nearly identical plays.

Union was further angered by a contentious penalty awarded to Gouna in stoppage time, which led to their first goal. The club insists defender Mahmoud Shabana played the ball before any contact occurred, arguing that these calls undermined the team’s opportunity to compete fairly and shifted the match’s momentum.

The club also criticized both the Egyptian FA and the league association for failing to address recurring refereeing blunders, warning that such lapses compromise league integrity and fair competition. The board confirmed it is permanently in session to defend the club’s rights and will take all necessary steps to safeguard team interests, calling for reforms to fix the ongoing issues in officiating.