Al Ahly SC are set to take formal action following contentious refereeing decisions during their 1-1 draw with Ceramica Cleopatra FC, with the club preparing to lodge an official complaint within hours.
The match, played on Tuesday evening at the Arab Contractors Stadium, formed part of the opening round of the Egyptian Premier League title-deciding phase. The result leaves Al Ahly on 41 points, just ahead of Ceramica Cleopatra on 39, maintaining a tight contest at the top of the table.
However, the focus has shifted away from the result itself and towards officiating decisions that Al Ahly believe significantly impacted the outcome. Central to the dispute is an incident in stoppage time of the second half, when the ball appeared to strike the hand of Ceramica defender Ahmed Hani inside the penalty area.
Referee Mahmoud Wafa opted not to award a penalty, despite what many observers described as a clear infringement. The decision has since prompted strong reaction from within the Al Ahly camp.
Club Prepares Formal Dossier
An official source at Al Ahly confirmed that the club is compiling a detailed report outlining what it considers to be multiple refereeing errors during the match. The document is expected to be submitted to the club’s football management imminently, before being escalated to the relevant authorities.
The source highlighted inconsistencies in officiating, pointing to another handball decision earlier in the game involving Mohamed Hany. According to the club, the referee penalised Hany for a similar offence near the centre circle, yet declined to award a penalty in a comparable situation inside the box.
He added: “The referee awarded a handball against Mohamed Hany near the center circle in the same match, and the handball was similar to the one he refused to award a penalty against the opposing defender.”
Further scrutiny has been directed at the role of the video assistant referee. VAR official Mahmoud Ashour is reported to have advised Wafa to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. Despite this, the on-field referee maintained his original decision.
Allegations of Misconduct
Beyond technical decisions, Al Ahly have also raised concerns over the conduct of the refereeing team during the match. The club alleges that inappropriate language was directed at players, including Mohamed El Shenawy and Hussein El Shahat.
The same source stated: “We will not leave our players alone, especially since the refereeing crew overstepped their bounds with Mohamed El Shenawy and El Shahat with inappropriate language.”
As part of their complaint, Al Ahly intend to request access to audio recordings from the VAR room, specifically relating to the disputed penalty incident. The club is also seeking clarification on why there was a delay in reviewing the footage on the field.
He concluded: “We will also request to hear the VAR room’s discussion regarding the incident where a penalty kick was not awarded, and the reason behind the referee’s delay in going to review the footage on the field. Al Ahly is not considering withdrawing from the league championship, but will take a strong stance regarding what it is being subjected to.”
Title Race Implications
While tensions have risen, Al Ahly have made it clear they will continue their pursuit of the league title. The club’s firm stance reflects both the competitive stakes and its determination to challenge what it perceives as unfair treatment.
Dispute Overshadows Crucial Stage
The controversy surrounding the Ceramica Cleopatra match has cast a shadow over a pivotal moment in the league campaign. As Al Ahly move forward with their complaint, the incident is likely to intensify scrutiny on refereeing standards and the use of VAR in Egyptian football.
