Al Ahly withdraws from derby, Zamalek shows up but match called off

The Cairo derby took an unexpected turn as Al Ahly officially withdrew from the match yesterday, following its previous warnings about "refereeing violations" in recent games. Despite the withdrawal, Zamalek arrived at the stadium as scheduled, ready to play, but Al Ahly did not show up, leading to the match’s cancellation.

In a prior statement, Al Ahly had called on the Football Association and the Clubs' League to provide clear refereeing guarantees to prevent decisive errors. Club officials stressed that repeated mistakes were undermining fair competition, which led them to take a firm stand. A club source had previously stated, "Al Ahly is simply demanding justice. We had no intention of escalating the situation unless these unfair conditions persisted."

Zamalek’s Response

Zamalek, on the other hand, upheld its stance of playing the match as planned, viewing any withdrawal as an attempt to avoid confrontation. The club had earlier emphasized that it would not accept a postponement or any changes to the match schedule. A club source reiterated, "Zamalek is committed to the league schedule and is prepared to face any team at any time."

The withdrawal has put the Football Association and the Clubs' League under significant pressure as they now face the challenge of determining the consequences of Al Ahly’s decision.

The president of the Football Association reassured that the referees assigned to the match were of the highest standard, aiming to ensure a smooth and fair game.

Previously, the Clubs' League had considered appointing foreign referees for the match, a move seen by some as an effort to de-escalate tensions and accommodate both sides. However, with Al Ahly’s withdrawal now official, the league must navigate the repercussions of this high-profile decision.