Ali Maher questions refereeing decisions after Ceramica Cleopatra’s Super Cup defeat by Al-Ahly

Ceramica Cleopatra coach Ali Maher has expressed frustration over the refereeing decisions in his side’s defeat by Al-Ahly in the Egyptian Super Cup, insisting that his team deserved fair treatment.

Maher said he was disappointed with the outcome of the match and questioned referee Mahmoud El-Banna’s handling of two incidents that he believes went against Ceramica Cleopatra.

Speaking on Al-Nahar television, the coach said he was not necessarily questioning the referee’s intentions but wanted his team’s rights to be respected.

“I was certainly sad after the loss to Al-Ahly in the Super Cup. I just wanted my rights,” Maher said.

He suggested that the incidents could not simply be dismissed as isolated mistakes, arguing that the same situation had occurred twice during the match.

“I don’t know if what happened was a misjudgment by referee Mahmoud El-Banna or not, but it happened twice, not once. It’s possible that it happened once, but twice, it can’t be overlooked,” he added.

Maher also questioned why the referee did not award his side what he believed were deserved decisions, claiming that the official had a clear view of the incidents.

“The problem is that he was present and saw the play clearly, and if this ball had been for Al-Ahly, it would have been counted from the first play,” he said.

The Ceramica Cleopatra coach acknowledged the pressure referees face when officiating matches involving Egypt’s biggest clubs but insisted that officials must demonstrate the character needed to make difficult decisions.

“The referees feel the pressure on them, but they must have character in order for me to get my rights,” Maher added.

Maher wary of Al-Ahly’s dominance

Beyond his concerns about officiating, Maher highlighted the challenge of competing against Al-Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League, describing the Cairo giants as a constant threat to their rivals.

He said Al-Ahly’s determination to win and maintain high performance levels makes them particularly difficult opponents for other clubs in Egypt.

“Al-Ahly is always number one in the competition. You should always be worried about them,” Maher said.

“Al-Ahly always wants to win and perform, and this is not the case in any other club in Egypt.”

Maher’s comments underline the difficulties facing Ceramica Cleopatra as they seek to compete with Al-Ahly, who have established themselves as one of the dominant forces in Egyptian football.

For the Ceramica Cleopatra coach, however, the immediate concern remains the Super Cup defeat and his belief that refereeing decisions played a significant role in the outcome.