“We won’t stay silent” – Al Ahly erupts over refereeing after Ceramica Cleopatra draw

Egyptian giants Al Ahly have expressed strong anger over officiating decisions following their controversial draw against Ceramica Cleopatra FC.

The highly competitive clash, held at the Arab Contractors Stadium on Tuesday ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Ceramica Cleopatra opened the scoring in the 40th-minute mark before the Egyptian giants pulled parity late in the game.

The result saw the Red Devils drop two crucial points in their title charge, raising fresh concerns about the team’s current form and mentality.

Speaking in televised remarks after the game, Sayed Abdel-Hafiz, who is a board member of the club asserted that the team may be experiencing a dip in form, refereeing decisions remain a major concern.

“Al-Ahly’s objection to the refereeing does not hide the decline in the team’s technical level in the recent period, but the refereeing errors had a clear impact on the result of the match.”

He stressed that what happened during the game—particularly the controversial penalty incident—was unacceptable and cannot be justified, accusing the officiating team of influencing the outcome.

Abdel-Hafiz further criticized the referee’s handling of the situation, suggesting there was an attempt to justify the decision not to award a penalty. He also called for full transparency, demanding access to the communication between the on-field referee and VAR officials during the key moment.

In a significant move, the Al Ahly board member revealed that the club has already requested foreign referees for upcoming high-stakes clashes against Zamalek SC and Pyramids FC.

“It is illogical to use foreign referees in all the remaining matches in the league.”

He confirmed that Al Ahly will escalate the matter officially, beginning with formal complaints and demands for an investigation into the refereeing performance, as well as clarity on how officials are appointed for league fixtures.

Despite the controversy and recent struggles, Abdel-Hafiz maintained belief in the club’s title ambitions.

“The league title is still up for grabs, despite the current circumstances,” he said, while also hinting at a broader restructuring plan within the club in the near future.

With tensions rising and decisive matches ahead, the fallout from this encounter could have major implications for the remainder of the title race.