A major refereeing controversy has erupted in the Egyptian league following Al Ahly’s draw against Ceramica Cleopatra, raising serious questions about officiating decisions and their impact on match outcomes.

Al Ahly released an official statement confirming that the club has filed a formal complaint with the Egyptian Football Association against referee Mahmoud Wafaa, who was in charge of the match.

The club stressed that critical refereeing mistakes directly influenced the result, particularly a disputed incident where Al Ahly believed they deserved a penalty.

Al Ahly Demand VAR Transparency

In their complaint, Al Ahly called for access to the audio communication between the on-field referee and the VAR officials during the controversial review.

The club emphasized that such transparency is standard practice in top international leagues and expressed readiness to pay any required fees to obtain the recordings.

Al Ahly also insisted that these conversations should be made public to ensure fairness and maintain trust in the competition.

Calls for Investigation and Accountability

Beyond the VAR issue, Al Ahly demanded a full investigation into what they described as unfair and questionable decisions made by the referee, especially incidents that occurred after the match.

The statement also referenced alleged verbal misconduct and actions that negatively affected the players, describing them as unacceptable.

Additionally, the club questioned the decision to appoint the same referee for this match, despite previous controversial performances involving the same teams, and noted that he had just returned from an overseas assignment hours before the game.

Al Ahly concluded by affirming their right to take all necessary legal steps to protect the club’s interests and ensure justice within the competition.