Egypt FA confirms referee test results as Essam Abdel-Fattah replaces Oscar Ruiz

The Egyptian Football Association has confirmed that 80 match officials have passed pre-season fitness and technical tests, with 12 assistants failing, as Essam Abdel-Fattah is appointed head of the Referees Committee in place of Colombian official Oscar Ruiz ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

The governing body said on its official website that the assessments for international referees, Premier League referees and assistants took place on Wednesday as part of a structured programme to prepare officials for the new season.

In total, 24 referees and 68 assistant referees underwent the “Cooper” fitness tests and other evaluations designed to raise both the physical and technical standards of Egyptian match officials before the league kicks off.

All 24 referees passed their tests, the association confirmed. Of the 68 assistant referees examined, 56 were successful, while 12 failed to reach the required benchmark.

Abdel-Fattah to lead new referees committee

Alongside the testing process, the Egyptian Football Association announced a major change at the top of its refereeing structure, confirming the appointment of Essam Abdel-Fattah as chairman of the Referees Committee, succeeding Oscar Ruiz.

The FA also confirmed the departure of the existing Referees Committee headed by Ruiz, along with its associated technical committee, and expressed its appreciation for the work carried out by the Colombian and his staff during the previous season.

According to information obtained by FilGoal.com, the final composition of the new Referees Committee is expected to be settled within hours, with Abdel-Fattah due to present his proposed line-up at the next meeting of the FA board of directors.

Training camps and season schedule

Abdel-Fattah has previously told FilGoal.com that referees’ preparation camps are scheduled to begin on either 2 or 3 August at the latest, as part of efforts to ensure officials are ready for the start of competitive action.

The Egyptian Football Association has already set key dates for the coming season. The draw for the new league campaign is scheduled to take place on 5 August.

FilGoal.com has learned that the 2026-27 season is planned to start on 20 August, giving referees and assistants a short window between their pre-season camps and the first round of fixtures.

The federation underlined that the current testing and training programme is central to its strategy to improve officiating standards domestically, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the fitness and on-field performance of all referees involved in the top flight and international appointments.