Essam Abd El-Fattah, head of Egypt's Referees Committee, has responded to criticism from Zamalek Club regarding the appointment of foreign referees for their matches. Abd El-Fattah stated that while refereeing levels worldwide are comparable, different schools of thought exist, with some allowing more physical contact than others. He made these comments in an interview with On Sport FM.
Zamalek recently lodged a complaint with the Egyptian Football Association against the Referees Committee, citing perceived injustices in their match against Al Ahly. The club attributed their loss to the alleged bias and claimed that the committee was influenced by a campaign against them before the season began. Abd El-Fattah denied these allegations, stating that the committee treats all teams equally.
Abd El-Fattah revealed that the committee had approached five major European football associations to import top referees for Zamalek's match, but three declined due to prior commitments. The committee had been seeking a high-caliber referee, but logistical issues and scheduling conflicts arose. He mentioned Simon Marchiniak, a renowned Polish referee, who was unavailable due to a scheduling conflict in Saudi Arabia.
The referee in question, who Abd El-Fattah did not name, had previously officiated a high-profile match between Belgium and France in the UEFA Nations League. Abd El-Fattah asked if such a match could be handled by an unknown or low-level referee, implying that the criticism of the referee's quality was unfounded. He also emphasized his preference for Egyptian referees but acknowledged the financial constraints in hiring referees from South America.
Abd El-Fattah expressed his opposition to analyzing the performance of foreign referees, stating that it was not his role to evaluate them. He emphasized that the committee's goal was to bring in the best possible referees, not to favor one team over another. The Egyptian Football Association will review Zamalek's complaint and respond accordingly.
The dispute highlights ongoing concerns about refereeing standards in Egyptian football. Abd El-Fattah stressed that the committee bears no responsibility for the decisions of foreign referees, only for their selection. He concluded by noting that the importance of the match between Pyramids and Ceramica Cleopatra warranted the appointment of an international referee, Amin Omar.
Key points from Abd El-Fattah's statement include the comparable levels of refereeing globally, differing refereeing styles, and the committee's efforts to secure top referees for Zamalek's matches. The issue remains a contentious topic in Egyptian football, with clubs and fans scrutinizing refereeing decisions.
Key points
- Egypt's referee chief disputes Zamalek's criticism of foreign referees.
- Abd El-Fattah cites logistical challenges in hiring top referees.
- The committee denies allegations of bias against Zamalek Club.
