Zamalek file complaint over refereeing in Al Ahly derby defeat

Zamalek have lodged an official complaint with the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) over the refereeing in their Cairo Derby defeat by rivals Al Ahly.

The Egyptian giants have questioned the standard of the appointed referee and accused the match official of making decisions they believe were deliberately biased against them.

In their complaint, Zamalek argued that the referee was not sufficiently experienced or qualified for a fixture of such importance, raising concerns about the quality of officiating in one of Egyptian football’s biggest matches.

The club also claim they should have been awarded two penalties after consulting several refereeing experts, who they say reviewed the incidents in question.

Zamalek further expressed frustration over the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), arguing that the technology was not deployed to review several crucial decisions during the match.

The Cairo-based club have held the referees’ committee responsible for their defeat, insisting that the officiating played a significant role in the outcome.

The complaint adds to the tension surrounding the latest meeting between the two fierce rivals, with Zamalek seeking answers over decisions they believe affected their chances of securing a positive result.

However, the club’s allegations remain their own assessment of the match, and any formal response or disciplinary action will depend on the Egyptian FA’s handling of the complaint.