The closing stages of the Egyptian football season have been overshadowed by uncertainty surrounding referee appointments after the temporary departure of Oscar Ruiz, head of the referees committee at the Egyptian Football Association.
With only two matches remaining before the domestic campaign officially concludes, responsibility for selecting referees has unexpectedly shifted away from the Colombian official and into the hands of his Egyptian assistants.
The season will conclude on 8 June with the final of the Egyptian League Cup between Al Masry SC and ENPPI SC. On the same day, Wadi Degla SC and ZED FC will compete in the third-place play-off.
However, preparations for those fixtures have coincided with Ruiz travelling to the United States to join FIFA’s team of refereeing lecturers overseeing preparations for officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ruiz steps away from domestic appointments
Sources indicated that Ruiz’s departure effectively ended his direct involvement in domestic referee appointments for the remainder of the Egyptian season.
According to those familiar with the situation, the final assignments personally overseen by the Colombian official were the matches from the last round of the Egyptian Premier League relegation phase, which concluded on 29 May.
Following his departure, responsibility for appointing referees to the League Cup semi-final second-leg matches on 1 June was transferred entirely to his Egyptian assistants within the referees committee.
The same arrangement is expected to continue for the remaining fixtures of the season, including both the League Cup final and the third-place play-off.
Sources stated that the referee selections for those matches will be made without consultation or direct communication with Ruiz, marking a significant shift in the management of refereeing affairs at a critical point in the domestic calendar.
Uncertainty over Ruiz’s future
The situation has also increased speculation surrounding Ruiz’s long-term future with the Egyptian Football Association.
His current absence comes amid growing uncertainty over whether the federation intends to renew his contract for next season or conclude his period in charge of the referees committee.
No official decision has yet been announced, but the lack of clarity has added further intrigue to the unexpected redistribution of responsibilities within the committee.
Ruiz was originally brought in to improve refereeing standards and oversee structural development within Egyptian officiating. During his tenure, he played a central role in appointing referees for domestic competitions and supervising technical evaluation processes.
Now, with the season reaching its conclusion, his assistants are temporarily handling some of the most important refereeing decisions of the campaign.
Final referee candidates emerge
Sources also revealed that international referees Mohamed El Ghazi and Mahmoud Nagi have emerged as the leading candidates to officiate the League Cup final between Al Masry and ENPPI.
The final decision is expected to be made internally by the referees committee in the coming days as preparations continue for the season-ending fixtures.
The unusual circumstances surrounding the appointments process have created additional attention around the matches, particularly given the broader uncertainty surrounding the future leadership of Egyptian refereeing.
While the League Cup final remains the last major football event of the domestic season, the developments behind the scenes have highlighted ongoing questions about the structure and direction of officiating in Egyptian football beyond the current campaign.
