Controversy! Egyptian Clubs Association cancels Al Ahly's points deduction from Cairo Derby forfeit

Photo Credit: Al Ahly SC

In a controversial decision, the Egyptian Professional League's Clubs Association’s Board of Directors has amended the Disciplinary Committee’s penalty (Decision No. 50) issued on 15 March, 2025. The association officially confirmed Zamalek’s 3-0 victory over Al Ahly in the league derby, in accordance with Article (4.17) of the competition regulations while also enforcing the financial fines stipulated in Article (8.17).

Additionally, the association decided to cancel the expected three-point deduction from Al Ahly at the end of the season. This penalty was anticipated, as a similar punishment was applied to Zamalek last season when they failed to attend their match against Al Ahly.

This decision comes following Al Ahly’s official complaint regarding the circumstances of their match against Zamalek in the first round of the league’s final phase for the 2024-2025 Nile League season when Al Ahly didn't show up for the game as a protest against the appointment of an Egyptian referee crew for the game.

The association stated that it had thoroughly reviewed the complaint and justified its ruling based on the exceptional conditions affecting this season’s league schedule. Due to the tight scheduling of the final phase, the Egyptian Cup matches, and the international break in March, the first round was held just five days after the previous phase had concluded.

The association explained that this scheduling issue prevented them from accommodating Al Ahly’s request to appoint foreign referees, a right guaranteed to all clubs by the regulations. It also noted that Al Ahly was not attempting to create a crisis or withdraw from the match but was simply seeking fairness for all parties involved.

However, this decision is unlikely to pass without backlash from Al Ahly’s rivals, particularly Zamalek and Pyramids. The ruling is expected to spark heated debates over the consistency of regulatory enforcement and fairness in disciplinary decisions. In the coming days, affected clubs may officially object to the ruling, calling for clarifications from the association.