Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, is calling for decisive action as the fallout from Al-Ahly’s withdrawal from the recent summit match against Zamalek continues to stir controversy.
The standoff, sparked by Al Ahly’s protest over the absence of foreign referees, has put the Egyptian Football Association and the Clubs Association under scrutiny. Sobhy insists that responsibility must be taken, pointing to a deeper need for resilience in the sport’s governing bodies.
“The Egyptian football is a soft power for the country, and it has previously met Al-Ahly and Zamalek in the Egypt Cup final in Saudi Arabia and the scene was great,” Sobhy said on “On Sport” radio
Ashraf Sobhy revealed behind-the-scenes efforts, noting, “I contacted Hani Aburaida, President of the Egyptian Federation, and Ahmed Diab, president of the association, on the day of the match, and no one contacted me before it, and I brought a Saudi referee, but his arrival was late.” He stressed that regulations must guide the resolution, saying, “Al-Ahly must bear the consequences of its decision and there are regulations governing this matter.”
