Zamalek give Egyptian FA 48-hour deadline over Al-Ahly derby complaints

Zamalek have given the Egyptian Football Association 48 hours to respond to their complaint over alleged refereeing errors in their recent derby against rivals Al-Ahly.

The Cairo-based club want the referees committee to acknowledge the errors they believe affected the match and have requested to listen to the audio recordings from the video assistant referee (VAR) room.

Zamalek spokesman Maher Gharib said the club were not expecting the match to be replayed or to be awarded the three points, but insisted they deserved an official explanation.

“We know that the derby will not be replayed and we will not get the three points,” Gharib told MBC Egypt.

“There was a mistake made by the referee and this mistake harmed Zamalek. Is it difficult for the referees committee to come out and say that there was a mistake made by the referee against Zamalek?”

He added that the club expected the football authorities to address their concerns within the deadline set.

“As Zamalek, I have a right and I demand to obtain it. The Football Association gave us 48 hours, and after that, we will talk about everything. I cannot anticipate events,” he said.

Gharib also discussed the club’s position on the appointment of foreign referees, explaining that Zamalek had previously requested one for a match against Ceramica in the previous season and had received approval.

He said regulations governed the use of foreign officials and suggested that arranging such appointments during the current period would be difficult.

Meanwhile, Gharib dismissed reports that forward Chico Banza had refused to travel with the Zamalek squad to Rwanda.

“I heard that Chico Banza requested not to travel with the Zamalek delegation to Rwanda. My answer is that the player is now with the team in Rwanda, and the only player who did not travel is Mahmoud Bentayk due to injury,” he said.

Gharib also provided an update on Moataz Gamal, who recently underwent surgery and was unable to travel with the delegation.

He said Gamal would join the squad soon and take charge of the team for their match against the Rwandan Army.

Zamalek’s complaint adds to the scrutiny surrounding officiating in Egyptian football, with the club now awaiting the association’s response to its demands.