Petroleum Assiut returned to the Egyptian Premier League after a 16-year absence, but the club found itself facing an unexpected crisis before the new season even got underway. Its matches were moved to Borg El Arab Stadium instead of being played in Assiut, prompting the club to issue a strongly worded statement expressing its anger and insisting on its right to play in front of its home supporters.

Stadium Crisis Hits Petroleum Assiut

The Egyptian Clubs Association announced that Petroleum Assiut’s matches in the first stage of the Premier League, as well as its group-stage games in the Egyptian League Cup, would be played at Borg El Arab Stadium, with the original dates and kick-off times maintained.

The decision came shortly before the team’s campaign began. Petroleum Assiut said it was surprised by the new arrangements on Wednesday evening, despite preparing to host its matches in Assiut and claiming in its statement that it had secured the necessary technical approvals related to broadcasting and VAR.

Meanwhile, reports citing sources indicated that the reason for the move was the lack of readiness at Assiut Cement Stadium in terms of the requirements needed to host Premier League matches. This puts the dispute in both a technical and logistical context, alongside the strong focus the club has placed on the issue of home supporters.

Petroleum Assiut argues that playing outside the governorate is more than simply a change of venue. The decision creates additional financial costs related to travel and accommodation while also depriving supporters in Assiut and Upper Egypt of the chance to watch their team at home during its long-awaited return to the top flight.

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Historic Return Turns Into Battle Off the Pitch

The stadium dispute comes at a particularly sensitive moment. Petroleum Assiut returned to the Premier League after 16 years away, marking its fourth overall appearance in the competition.

The club also pointed out that Petroleum Assiut Stadium and Assiut Cement Stadium have hosted more than 100 Premier League matches over the years, raising questions over why they cannot be used for the team’s games now.

Under the current circumstances, the club faces a difficult choice: accept playing outside Assiut and bear the resulting costs in order to remain in the competition, or take further steps to defend what it considers its rights.

Petroleum Assiut began its new campaign against Suez Petrojet at Borg El Arab Stadium, highlighting the controversy that overshadowed its return to the top flight.

While the team now looks for a strong start on the pitch, its biggest battle remains off it, as the club seeks to bring its matches back to Assiut and resolve the stadium dispute that has cast a shadow over one of the most notable promotion stories of the new season.