Somalia referee Omar Artan could officiate in the Egyptian Premier League after the Somali Football Federation submitted a formal request to use him in league matches.
Essam Abdel Fattah, chairman of the Egyptian referees committee, said he had no objection to the proposal but that it still required approval from the Egyptian Football Association.
Artan had contacted Abdel Fattah, although not specifically to referee the upcoming match between Al Ahly and Zamalek.
“He sent an official letter from the Somali Football Federation requesting to referee in the Egyptian Premier League,” Abdel Fattah said in televised comments. “I have no objection, but we are waiting for the approval of the Egyptian Football Association. If the football association agrees, we will host him in the Egyptian Premier League as soon as possible.”
Why Rade Obrenovic was chosen for the derby
Abdel Fattah also explained how Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic was selected to take charge of the match between Al Ahly and Zamalek.
The fixture is scheduled for Sunday, 11 October at Cairo Stadium in the sixth round of the Egyptian Premier League.
The referees committee contacted the associations of Europe’s five major leagues while searching for an officiating team. Germany, England and Italy declined to send referees, while Portugal’s response arrived too late.
The available Portuguese officials were not considered elite-level referees, and the same applied to the options from Spain.
Abdel Fattah said he had personally contacted several referees, but they turned down the opportunity because of existing commitments, particularly UEFA Champions League matches.
The committee eventually settled on Obrenovic, whom Abdel Fattah described as the best referee in Slovenia.
Abdel Fattah defends Egyptian officials
Abdel Fattah defended referees against criticism, saying complaints about officiating were not limited to Egypt and were also common in Spain and other major football nations.
He said referees were often viewed as the weakest link in the football system and that it was difficult for officiating to become a strong point in the eyes of supporters.
He also noted that the leagues in Spain, France and Italy do not use foreign referees for their matches, regardless of the standard of officiating.
Mahmoud Ashour’s decision
Asked about Mahmoud Ashour, Abdel Fattah said “resignation” was the most accurate description of what had happened.
He explained that Ashour had wanted to work in the media from the outset. After discussions, Ashour initially agreed to join the committee before later making his final decision, which Abdel Fattah said he respected.
The committee is also working to improve referees’ psychological support. Individual sessions are being arranged, while specialists in psychological support are expected to be brought in at a later stage.
Abdel Fattah added that some referees had already sought help from psychologists because of frustration.
