Latest news with #EgyptianOlympicCommittee
Al-Ahram Weekly
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
EFA appeals postpones verdict in Cairo derby controversy to 15 May - Egyptian Football
The Egyptian Football Association's (EFA) appeals committee has postponed its decision on the Cairo derby controversy to 15 May, after previously setting Thursday 8 May, as the date for a final decision. The dispute stems from a decision by the Egyptian Pro League (EPL) board to reduce sanctions imposed on Al Ahly after the club failed to appear for their derby match against arch-rivals Zamalek on March 11. "The decision to postpone the matter came due to the absence of the reasons behind the contested decision from the Pro League competitions Association, which renders the current documents insufficient to rule on the arguments and defenses presented by all appealing parties," read a statement issued by the Appeals committee on Thursday. "The committee has decided to summon the president of the Competitions committee to its next session before taking a decision on the submitted appeals and notifying all appealing parties." Ahly, Zamalek and Pyramids FC have all filed appeals against the EPL board's ruling. Ahly argue they should not be penalized for the no-show, insisting they had requested a foreign referee for the high-stakes fixture. Zamalek and Pyramids FC, however, oppose the reduction in sanctions and have urged the appeals committee to reinstate the original penalties. The derby crisis began when Ahly refused to play, citing their earlier request for a non-Egyptian referee. Despite their objection, Egyptian referee Mahmoud Bassyouni was appointed to officiate. He was present at Cairo Stadium alongside the Zamalek team but called off the match 15 minutes after kick-off due to Ahly's absence. The EPL's competitions committee subsequently declared Ahly losers by default, docked the club three points, and ordered them to cover financial losses incurred by the cancellation. Ahly rejected the sanctions and warned they would consider withdrawing from the domestic league unless their demands were met. An initial appeal to the Egyptian Olympic Committee was unsuccessful, with the committee upholding the competitions committee's decision. However, in late March, the EPL board reversed part of the punishment, cancelling the three-point deduction—a move that provoked a strong backlash from Zamalek and Pyramids FC. Both clubs appealed the EPL board's decision and threatened to escalate the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if the appeals committee maintains the reduced sanctions. The derby dispute could have major implications for the league title race. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Pyramids FC currently top the Egyptian Premier League with 47 points, just one ahead of second-placed Ahly, with four matches remaining in the season. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Preview: Ahly seek to close gap against league leaders Pyramids FC - Egyptian Football
Defending champions Al-Ahly will look to reignite their Egyptian Premier League title charge when they face leaders Pyramids FC in a pivotal Playoff stage clash at Cairo's 30 June Stadium on Saturday, aiming for a victory to slash the point deficit to the table-toppers and breathe new life into their pursuit of a 45th domestic crown. The title holders currently sit second in the league standings with 39 points, trailing leaders Pyramids FC by four points. The Red Devils have decided to resume competing in the league following a revised ruling by the Egyptian Pro League (EPL), which softened penalties imposed on the club for its controversial withdrawal from the Cairo derby against Zamalek on 11 March in protest over the EPL's rejection of their request for foreign match officials. Initially handed a 3-0 forfeit defeat, a three-point deduction, and financial penalties, Ahly saw their sanctions partially eased after the EPL acknowledged the club's appeal for fairness amid a congested schedule. The league stated Ahly's demand for neutral refereeing was 'legitimate for all clubs' and not an attempt to 'create a crisis.' Though the Egyptian Olympic Committee dismissed Ahly's initial appeal, the club opted to continue their campaign following the revised ruling. Both sides enter the clash buoyed by continental success, since Ahly advanced to the CAF Champions League semifinals with a 2-0 aggregate victory over Sudan's Al-Hilal, while Pyramids FC have edged Morocco's FAR Rabat 4-3 on aggregate to reach the competition' last four for the first time in their history. Historically, Ahly hold the upper hand, winning 10 of their 21 meetings across all competitions, while Pyramids FC have claimed six victories, with their most recent encounter in January ended 2-2. Ahly Swiss coach Marcel Koller warned his players against squandering the opportunities that will arise during the match, emphasizing the need to capitalize on every chance, stressing that such high-stakes games do not tolerate missed opportunities. The hosts, under Croatian tactician Krunoslav Jurcic, are expected to deploy a 4-3-3 system, leveraging quick transitions to exploit spaces left by Ahly's marauding full-backs, though they could do without the services of influential trio Ramadan Sobhi, Ibrahim Adel, and Blati Toure, who are reportedly sidelined through injuries. Pyramids FC boast a lethal frontline and organized defense but have shown inconsistency, while Ahly's title pedigree and big-game mentality could prove decisive. With both clubs chasing domestic glory and continental ambitions, this showdown promises a thrilling blend of tactical nuance, technical quality, and high drama. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Ahly to resume Egyptian League after EPL reduces derby withdrawal punishment - Egyptian Football
Cairo giants Ahly announced early Monday that they will resume competing in the Egyptian Premier League after the Egyptian Pro League (EPL) reduced the punishment imposed on them for withdrawing from their recent derby against archrivals Zamalek. In a statement, Ahly highlighted the EPL's acknowledgment of the club's good intentions, reiterating that their primary concern has always been fairness and the overall interests of Egyptian football, even if it came at a short-term cost. The club confirmed that they 'will resume the league, alongside doing all the necessary actions to keep the club's rights, and avoiding such mistakes in the future.' On 11 March, Ahly failed to show up for the highly anticipated Cairo derby against Zamalek in protest over the EPL's refusal to appoint a foreign refereeing crew for the match. The defending champions had threatened to withdraw from the league if their request for foreign officials and a derby postponement was not met. As a result, Ahly were deemed to have forfeited the match 3-0, with an additional three-point deduction and financial penalties. However, the EPL announced a revised decision on Sunday, stating that due to the congested schedule, they were unable to accommodate Ahly's demand—calling it 'a legitimate demand for all clubs." The EPL acknowledged "that Ahly's request was made in pursuit of fairness rather than to create a crisis or refuse to play the derby." Ahly initially appealed the decision to the Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC), but it was rejected due to a lack of merit. The club had vowed to escalate the issue further but has now opted to continue in the league following the EPL's revised ruling. Zamalek and Pyramids React The EPL's decision sparked immediate anger from title contenders Zamalek and Pyramids FC. Following the cancellation of the points deduction, Ahly remained second in the table with 39 points, four behind leaders Pyramids FC. Zamalek, sitting third with 35 points, are vying for a top-two finish to secure a CAF Champions League spot next season. Zamalek issued a statement rejecting the EPL's decision and threatening to escalate the matter both domestically and internationally. The club criticized the league's handling of the competition, calling it unprofessional and describing the situation as 'chaotic and absurd.' Pyramids FC also condemned the ruling, arguing that it reflected inconsistency and unfairness, as Zamalek had faced a similar punishment last season without any reduction. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Independent
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Egypt Independent
The EPL validates Zamalek's win over Ahly, with 6 point deduction from The Reds
The Egyptian Pro League (EPL), headed by Ahmed Diab, announced that it has validated the results of the Al-Ahly and Zamalek match in the football summit for the first round of the Egyptian Premier League (Nile League), with Zamalek as the 3-0 winner in accordance with the competition regulations. The association also approved the deduction of three points from Ahly, in addition to the points for the match in which it was deemed defeated for a six point total deduction. Ahly will bear all losses resulting from the loss of income from commercial and broadcast contracts, as well as all other expenses incurred by participating in competition matches prior to the withdrawal. Ahly's board of directors, headed by Mahmoud al-Khatib, filed an official complaint with the Egyptian Olympic Committee against both the Egyptian Football Association and the EPL, citing a violation of regulations governing the summit match between Ahly and Zamalek. The board's official statement explained that its complaint stems from the appointment of an Egyptian refereeing team to officiate the match. The club considered this a violation of the previous decision issued by the Egyptian Professional League, which stipulated the appointment of a foreign refereeing team for the match to ensure fairness between competing teams. The Olympic Committee referred Ahly's complaint to the relevant committee, which will respond as soon as possible.
Egypt Today
25-02-2025
- Sport
- Egypt Today
As part of Egypt's sports tourism agenda: The Minister of Youth and Sports inaugurates the 2025 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay for the third consecutive year.
Reinforcing Egypt's position as a global hub for aquatic sports, Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, inaugurated the opening leg of the 2025 Open Water Swimming World Cup, hosted in Somabay from February 18 to 22, 2025. Building on the remarkable success of the 2023 and 2024 editions, this event further solidifies Egypt's status as a premier destination for international sporting events. The competition features a record-breaking participation of 129 world-class swimmers (73 men and 56 women) from 28 national federations, along with 16 relay teams from 10 national federations, making it the most nationally represented Open Water Swimming World Cup event in history. For the first time, the tournament includes swimmers from all continents, underscoring its status as a truly global sporting event. Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, emphasized the significance of Egypt hosting this prestigious international event, highlighting the vital role such tournaments play in enhancing the country's reputation as a leading sports and tourism destination. He stated: "Hosting the opening leg of the 2025 Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay reflects the continuous development of Egypt's sports infrastructure and reaffirms our readiness to host major international events." He further noted that the tournament's success for the third consecutive year is the result of a strong partnership between World Aquatics and the Egyptian Swimming Federation, along with the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with private sector partners. Similarly, Captain Husain Al-Musallam, President of World Aquatics, praised Somabay's key role in advancing open water swimming, stating: "Somabay's ability to deliver a top-tier competition environment year after year makes it a cornerstone of our global circuit. This reflects Egypt's commitment to developing aquatic sports and maintaining a world-class sporting environment." In the same context, Eng. Yasser Idris, President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee and the Egyptian Swimming Federation, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the state and the private sector in hosting major sporting events. He added: "The continued success of the Open Water Swimming World Cup reflects Egypt's growing influence within the global aquatic sports community and serves as an inspiration for future generations of athletes." The President of the Egyptian Swimming Federation further stated that Egypt's participation with a junior national team provides an opportunity for Egyptian swimmers to improve their global rankings based on the World Cup results. He also emphasized that this participation is part of the federation's preparations for the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games, aiming to develop and qualify promising swimmers for future international competitions. Eng. Ibrahim El-Missiri, Group CEO of Somabay, praised the strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors, emphasizing the pivotal role of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as the close cooperation with World Aquatics, the Egyptian Swimming Federation, and Mindset Sports Management. He stated: "Hosting the Open Water Swimming World Cup for the third consecutive year is a testament to our commitment to providing an ideal environment for athletes to train and compete, reinforcing Egypt's position as a global sports destination." The competition officially began on February 21 with the men's and women's 10km individual races, followed by the 4x1.5km mixed relay on February 22, featuring elite swimmers from around the world. The Men's 10km Individual Race saw intense competition, with Florian Wellbrock from Germany securing first place, Logan Fontaine from France finishing second, and Marc-Antoine Olivier from France taking third. In the Women's 10km Individual Race, Moesha Johnson from Australia claimed first place, followed by Ginevra Taddeucci from Italy in second, while Chelsea Gubecka from Australia secured third. After concluding in Egypt, the World Cup will continue with subsequent legs in Ibiza, Spain; Setúbal, Portugal; and Golfo Aranci, Italy, with the final venue and date to be announced later. On the sidelines of the opening round, Dr. Ashraf Sobhy visited the Soma Bay Sports Arena, a comprehensive sports facility that provides an ideal environment for athletes to train and compete. The facility includes the Aquatics Center, featuring Olympic and semi-Olympic swimming pools, as well as the Team Sports Zone, which houses courts for padel, squash, and grass tennis, a multipurpose court, and a football pitch. Additionally, it features the Power Zone, which includes a gym and a dedicated fitness studio, and the Endurance Zone, which contains a running track. The minister praised the outstanding facilities at Soma Bay Sports Arena, emphasizing that such state-of-the-art venues enhance Egypt's ability to host international training camps and attract major global sports championships.
