⚽ Radé Obrenović appointed for the Cairo derby
The Egyptian Football Association has officially appointed Slovenian referee Radé Obrenović to take charge of the highly anticipated Al Ahly vs Zamalek derby on Sunday, October 11, at Cairo International Stadium in the sixth round of the Egyptian Premier League.
Obrenović will lead a full Slovenian officiating team, with Jure Praprotnik as first assistant, Grega Kordež as second assistant and David Šmajc as fourth official. Matej Jug has been appointed as VAR, with David Gabr as AVAR.
Obrenović has held FIFA international status since 2017 and is regarded as a UEFA elite-level referee. His most recent international match involving national teams was Belgium against France in the Nations League on September 28, 2026.
🔥 1,407 yellow cards and 31 reds
Sports critic Abdel Latif Fawzi highlighted one of the most notable aspects of Obrenović’s refereeing record: his frequent use of disciplinary cards.
Speaking on “Zamalek Voice” radio, Fawzi said the Slovenian referee has officiated 343 matches, during which he has shown 1,407 yellow cards and 31 red cards. Those figures are also reflected in published profiles of the referee ahead of the derby.
Fawzi also pointed out a particularly unusual detail about Obrenović’s career: alongside refereeing, he works as a psychiatrist, adding another interesting dimension to the profile of the official selected for one of Egypt’s most intense football matches.
🧠 A referee who also works as a psychiatrist
Obrenović is 36 years old and began refereeing in Slovenia before earning his international badge in 2017.
His professional background combines elite football officiating with work in psychiatry, a detail that has attracted considerable attention ahead of the Cairo derby.
Given the emotional intensity and pressure surrounding Al Ahly-Zamalek matches, the players’ reactions to decisions and their ability to remain disciplined could become particularly important on Sunday.
📢 Previous Trabzonspor experience draws attention
Fawzi also recalled Obrenović’s previous involvement in a match featuring Trabzonspor, the Turkish club where Egyptian star Mohamed Salah currently plays.
In the second leg of Trabzonspor’s Europa League playoff against Hungarian side Ferencváros in August, the Turkish team suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat and finished the match with nine players after two dismissals. Ferencváros were also awarded a penalty during the encounter, which was refereed by Obrenović.
That match offered another example of Obrenović taking strong disciplinary action when he considered it necessary, making composure an important factor for both Al Ahly and Zamalek.
⭐ Players urged to remain calm
Fawzi stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary reactions during the derby, warning that excessive emotion could lead to disciplinary cards that might affect the course of the match.
Both teams will therefore need to limit needless arguments, confrontations and reactions to refereeing decisions, particularly because an early booking could place a player under pressure for the remainder of the game.
🏆 The derby is not the entire season
Despite the enormous importance of the Al Ahly-Zamalek clash, Fawzi also stressed that the game should not be treated as the only defining fixture of the season.
He pointed specifically to Zamalek’s upcoming African commitments and the importance of preserving the squad for the matches that follow the derby.
That makes player discipline and avoiding unnecessary suspensions or injuries especially important as both clubs navigate a demanding schedule.
Ultimately, Sunday’s derby will be a test not only for the players but also for Obrenović, whose European experience and considerable disciplinary record have already attracted attention ahead of kickoff.
Do you expect the Al Ahly-Zamalek derby to produce a high number of cards under Radé Obrenović? Share your prediction.
