Petroleum Asyut explain why Asyut Cement Stadium cannot host Premier League matches

A crack in a third-tier stand has prevented Asyut Cement Stadium from receiving security approval, forcing Petroleum Asyut to move its Egyptian Premier League matches temporarily to Borg El Arab Stadium.

The newly promoted club had initially planned to use Asyut Cement Stadium for its home fixtures, but the Egyptian Clubs Association announced that Petroleum Asyut’s matches would instead be transferred to Borg El Arab.

A source at Petroleum Asyut told FilGoal.com that the club had arranged an alternative venue after securing promotion, while work continued at its own stadium.

“Club management provided an alternative stadium to Petroleum Asyut Stadium from the moment we were promoted to the Premier League, until the work on our stadium was completed, which had been scheduled to finish next October,” the source said.

The source explained that Asyut Cement Stadium had already met some of the required technical standards, including its floodlights and the designated location for video assistant referee equipment.

However, the venue had not secured the necessary security clearance because of a structural concern involving one of the third-tier stands.

“Asyut Cement Stadium is ready in terms of lighting and the location for the video technology, but there is a note concerning a crack in one of the third-tier stands,” the source said.

“This caused a delay in obtaining security approval, particularly with around 2,000 supporters expected to attend. We explained to them that the crack did not affect the structure of the stadium, but the request was rejected.”

Petroleum Asyut then considered hosting its matches at Aswan Stadium, but the process of arranging an inspection took too long.

“The club turned to Aswan Stadium to host the matches, but the delay in the inspection procedures led the club to look for another venue. In the end, the team’s matches were moved to Borg El Arab Stadium in coordination with the Egyptian Clubs Association,” the source added.

The club now plans to contact the Ministry of Sports to seek a solution that could allow Asyut Cement Stadium to be used in the near future.

“Petroleum Asyut’s management will contact the Ministry of Sports to coordinate with the Asyut Security Directorate in order to obtain the security approval for Asyut Cement Stadium,” the source said.

“That would allow us to use it during the coming period until our own stadium is ready.”

Petroleum Asyut, who represent Upper Egypt, hope the temporary move to Borg El Arab will not last beyond the international break.

“Petroleum Asyut represents Upper Egypt, and it is natural for our matches to be played in Upper Egypt,” the source said.

“However, the lack of another stadium that currently meets the requirements has led to our matches being moved temporarily to Borg El Arab Stadium. We hope to return to Asyut after the international break.”

Petroleum Asyut are scheduled to begin their Egyptian Premier League campaign at Borg El Arab Stadium against Montakhab El-Suez and Petrojet.