The Football Association announced the appointment of Essam Abdel Fattah as head of the Referees Committee, succeeding Oscar Ruiz, in a decision that sparked the anger of Al-Ahly fans on social media platforms, after the crisis that brought together the head of the Referees Committee and the Red Team in 2022 came back to mind.
A crisis erupted between Al-Ahly and the Referees Committee headed by Essam Abdel Fattah on the third of August 2022, following the Red Team's match against Pharco.
The goalless draw settled the Al-Ahly vs Pharco encounter at the time, which saw a goal by the Red Team's player Percy Tau canceled after a video review for offside, sparking the anger and objections of the Red Castle officials.
On August 4, Al-Ahly Club issued a statement demanding the dismissal of the Referees Committee, describing it as having lost its integrity and credibility.
Al-Ahly Club also demanded the suspension of Mahmoud Ashour, the VAR referee in the Pharco match, pending an investigation into his actions.
Essam Abdel Fattah responded to Al-Ahly's statement in television remarks, announcing his resignation from his position and expressing his anger at the Red Castle's statement.
Abdel Fattah said: "To everyone who described the Referees Committee as lacking integrity and transparency, I say this is a great shame, and it is disrespectful, and no one will accept it; Egypt's referees are honorable and in good standing."
The former head of the Referees Committee later indicated in remarks that the Referees Committee should have filed a lawsuit against Al-Ahly Club, but he did not do so and preferred to respond directly through the media.
