Essam Abdel Fattah, head of the Referees Committee at the Egyptian Football Association, made important statements regarding the criticisms directed at the refereeing system during the recent period since the start of the 2026/2027 season.
Abdel Fattah also addressed his stance on appointing referee Mahmoud Wafa, who officiated the Al-Ahly vs. Ceramica Cleopatra match in the Premier League last season, a game that sparked widespread controversy, and whether he would oversee Al-Ahly's matches this season.
Statements by Essam Abdel Fattah, Head of the Referees Committee
Essam Abdel Fattah said in televised remarks on "CBC" channel: "The doubt cast upon the system this season makes me regret accepting the presidency of the Referees Committee at the Egyptian Football Association."
He added: "We will deal with an iron fist against anyone who questions the fairness of refereeing or speaks without justification and says what is impermissible. I have discussed this matter with Hany Abu Rida, and I will meet with him tomorrow to seek a solution to this crisis."
Abdel Fattah: Wael Gomaa Has Not Spoken to Me
He continued: "Wael Gomaa's conversation was limited to referee Mohamed Maarouf during the Al-Ahly vs. ZED match, demanding a penalty kick for Ali Mahmoud. Maarouf has completely and categorically denied to me everything that was circulated. We will return to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to ascertain all details accurately."
The Head of the Referees Committee added: "Every club has the right to issue any statement it wishes, and we will respond to ZED Club's statement tomorrow. Wael Gomaa has not spoken to me at all regarding Al-Ahly's latest match against ZED."
He further stated: "The segment analyzing refereeing errors might be cancelled due to the unjustified attacks recently launched against refereeing. This is because some parties do not desire transparency or a culture of analysis. While we speak with full credibility and integrity to enhance viewers' understanding, we face skepticism from everyone, whether officials or fans, as everyone wants more than their due."
I Trust Maarouf; Wafa Will Officiate Al-Ahly Matches Under Certain Conditions
Essam Abdel Fattah emphasized: "I trust all referees, including Mohamed Maarouf, as he is a World Cup referee and well-ranked. I believe he did not make any mistakes in the Al-Ahly vs. ZED match; it is difficult for such errors to come from him because he is a senior referee."
He indicated: "Referee Mahmoud Wafa will normally officiate Al-Ahly matches, but at the appropriate time. As I stated initially, we must turn a new page and forget the past; we all make mistakes. However, from the very first week, we noticed ambushes targeting refereeing, even though the decisions were 90% correct."
He noted: "I will not close the door to recruiting foreign referees, especially for Al-Ahly and Zamalek matches, although I prioritize Egyptian referees. Problems can arise whether a top match is officiated by a foreign or local referee."
The Mansoura Club Crisis
During his statements, Essam Abdel Fattah addressed the crisis surrounding Mansoura's recent match, explaining that he received a phone call from the club's president, Major General Mohamed Bassiouni. He pointed out that it is difficult to determine whether the ball constituted a goal or not without video technology.
He elaborated: "The only person capable of determining the validity of the goal is the assistant referee, as he stands on the same line. Furthermore, even the players did not object during the match. We respect all club presidents; Mohamed Bassiouni spoke with me about the team's first match and understood the matter quite well from my explanation."
