Orange challenge Egyptian FA expulsion ahead of 2026-27 season

Orange have rejected a decision by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) to exclude them from all of the federation’s competitions for the 2026-27 season, arguing that they had taken the necessary steps to regularise their legal position.

The EFA board approved the expulsion at a meeting on Saturday, 15 August, chaired by Hany Abu Rida. The decision followed a review of Egypt’s Sports Law No. 71 of 2017 and its amendments, the EFA’s statutes and regulations governing competitions and player registration, as well as correspondence from the Ministry of Youth and Sports concerning Orange’s legal status.

The federation said Orange had failed to obtain a valid licence required to conduct sporting activities. It stated that the original deadline for the club to complete the necessary procedures expired on 16 July, while an additional deadline granted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports ended on 13 August.

According to the EFA, Orange had not supplied evidence of a valid sports licence by 13 August 2026. The federation therefore concluded that the club no longer met one of the legal conditions required to take part in its competitions.

The EFA said holding such a licence was a compulsory requirement both for conducting sporting activity and for participating in competitions organised by the federation. It added that a club could not compete if it failed to satisfy that condition.

Orange, however, said its file was still being followed up and completed with the relevant authorities. The club said it had held an official meeting with federation officials only two days before the decision was announced, during which it was assured there was no intention to remove Orange from the competitions.

It also argued that the expiry of the deadline coincided with an official holiday, which prevented some of the agreed procedures from being completed.

Orange said it was a member of the EFA’s general assembly and had officially registered teams across several age groups. The club also stated that it had registered its players for the new season and received the player cards required for participation, including those belonging to foreign players registered under the applicable regulations.

The club has submitted an urgent appeal seeking to suspend the expulsion while its case is considered. Orange said the appeal was intended to protect its legal and sporting rights, as well as the interests of its players and technical and administrative staff.

It warned that the decision could affect hundreds of players, youth-team members, academy players and members of the club’s technical and administrative departments. Orange said they risked becoming victims of disagreements and conflicting positions between the authorities involved in the sporting system.

The club also highlighted the potential impact on players contracted to Orange. With most clubs having closed their squads ahead of the new season, Orange said those players could be denied the opportunity to compete or take part in sporting activity, while suffering serious sporting, legal and financial consequences through no fault of their own.

In a related measure, the EFA ordered the removal of all players registered on Orange’s lists for the 2026-27 season. The move allows those players to transfer to and register with another club of their choice, subject to the relevant regulations.

The federation said the measure was designed to protect the players, arguing that keeping them registered with a club unable to meet the legal requirements for participation could otherwise prevent them from playing or moving elsewhere.

The EFA board said its decision was intended to preserve competitive fairness and the stability of its competitions while ensuring players were not penalised for a legal issue concerning their club. Federation departments were instructed to update registration records and help the affected players complete transfers and registrations in line with EFA and FIFA rules on player status and transfers.

The decision took effect on 15 August 2026, with any conflicting provisions cancelled.

Orange will therefore miss the federation’s competitions before the new campaign begins. The club had been expected to take part in the Egyptian Third Division. It recently played Zamalek in a friendly, losing 4-0.

The EFA had previously given Orange time to regularise its position before withdrawing its licence permanently. Orange has maintained that it completed the required procedures and is retaining all of its legal and sporting rights.