Al Ahli has escalated its crisis with the Egyptian Football Association, following an official statement of strong condemnation regarding the dispute over accessing the video assistant referee (VAR) recordings of its match against Ceramica Cleopatra in the Egyptian League. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and was marked by protests over refereeing decisions. The escalation came after Al Ahli received a letter from the Football Association approving its request to listen to the conversations that took place between the refereeing team. However, the association limited the number of attendees to only two members of the technical or administrative staff who were present on the field during the match, which the club rejected. In its statement, published on its account on social media platform X, Al Ahli affirmed its inalienable right to choose its representatives during the hearing session. The club pointed out that there is no regulation or legal text that grants the Football Association the right to determine the names or status of attendees, whether they are technical, administrative, or official. Al Ahli clarified that the hearing is not limited to technical aspects but also has legal dimensions, including the penalties imposed after the match, in addition to the complaints it filed against the match referee. It stressed that this necessitates the presence of whomever it deems appropriate to defend its rights. It is worth noting that Al Ahli had submitted an official complaint against the match referee, Mahmoud Wahba, demanding access to the dialogue between him and the video assistant referee, Mahmoud Ashour, during the review of an incident in which the team demanded a penalty kick. The club emphasized that its request comes within the framework of seeking transparency and justice, and it rejects any restrictions that might hinder reaching the full truth, confirming its intention to continue taking all legal measures to protect its rights.
