Jihad Grisha claims Ahmed Megahed interfered with Egypt’s refereeing committee

Former Egyptian referees’ committee member Jihad Grisha has claimed Ahmed Megahed interfered in the committee’s work and said a controversial incident involving Al Ahly and Ceramica Cleopatra should have resulted in a penalty.

The Egyptian Football Association has announced the final line-up of the referees’ committee for the 2026-27 season, with Essam Abdel Fattah appointed chairman.

Speaking on Modern TV, Grisha said: “Ahmed Megahed intervened in the work of the referees’ committee. For example, Wajih Ahmed and Azab Haggag should have remained under any circumstances.”

Grisha also revealed that he had discussed the matter directly with Megahed.

“I had a phone call with Ahmed Megahed and he told me that if I was thinking about the departure of the duo, that would not happen throughout Hany Abou Rida’s time. My response was that I was not a party to the matter,” he said.

Grisha then addressed a disputed decision from a match between Al Ahly and Ceramica Cleopatra, saying he believed Al Ahly should have been awarded a penalty.

“The controversial incident involving Al Ahly against Ceramica Cleopatra was a correct penalty for Al Ahly, and I expressed my opinion at the referees’ committee meeting. But in the end, I was one person among five members,” he said.

He also criticised former referees’ committee technical director Oscar Ruiz, describing him as highly determined to follow his own judgement.

“Oscar Ruiz was very stubborn and insisted on his opinion. One example of that stubbornness was his refusal to punish Mahmoud and Wafa after the Al Ahly versus Ceramica Cleopatra match,” Grisha said.

He added: “I blamed him when he told us that Mahmoud Ashour and Wafa had not made a mistake. I told him there had to be an error because the decisions of the two officials were different.”

Grisha nevertheless praised Ruiz’s technical work and his contribution to refereeing development in Egypt.

“Technically, in terms of lectures and preparing referees, there is no one like Oscar Ruiz in Egypt,” he said.

However, Grisha claimed there had been significant opposition to Ruiz’s departure within three months of his appointment because of the demands he had made.

“There was an extraordinary campaign for him to leave after the first three months because of his requests. Among them were appointing Jihad Grisha as his deputy and the departure of Wajih Ahmed and Azab Haggag. But there was interference and his requests were rejected. He accepted that, and I told him at the time that this was the beginning of the downfall,” he said.

The new referees’ committee, headed by Abdel Fattah, also includes Gamal El-Ghandour, Samir Othman and Mahmoud Ashour, who recently worked as a video assistant referee at the 2026 World Cup.

The draw for the new Egyptian Premier League season is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 5 August.

Zamalek won the Egyptian Premier League title last season, while Pyramids won the Egypt Cup.