After much controversy... The State Council settles the fate of the Al Ahly vs. Zamalek showdown.
The Administrative Judiciary refers Al Ahly’s lawsuit regarding withdrawal from the derby to the Commissioners Authority, with the ruling scheduled for August.
The Administrative Judiciary Court at the Council of State has decided to refer the lawsuit filed by members of Al Ahly’s General Assembly against the Professional Clubs Association and the Egyptian Football Association, regarding Al Ahly’s withdrawal from the derby match against Zamalek, to the State Commissioners Authority to prepare a legal report. The court set a session to hear the case on August 6, 2025.
The lawsuit demands the cancellation of the decision issued against Al Ahly in the match originally scheduled for March 11, which resulted in awarding a 3-0 victory to Zamalek, deducting points from Al Ahly, and threatening them with losing the league title. It also calls for suspending the announcement of league results until the substantive part of the case is resolved and for scheduling a new date for the match.
A lawyer from the Court of Cassation and a member of the Lawyers’ Freedoms Committee confirmed that the court reserved judgment after noticing a lack of seriousness from the Professional Clubs Association’s defense. He pointed out the association’s failure to prove the legality of its decisions due to its members not being elected by the league clubs, the presence of a member from a club relegated to the second division, and the absence of representatives from newly promoted clubs.
The lawyer emphasized that the Council of State is the sole authority responsible for overseeing the legality of administrative decisions. He also noted that a preliminary ruling issued earlier in May paves the way for the final verdict before the end of the tournament, leaving the league’s fate uncertain.
The legal source stressed that Al Ahly is an independent popular sports entity that does not receive financial support from the state and is considered a symbol of Egypt’s soft power. Therefore, imposing financial penalties or stripping the club of the championship would undermine the fairness of sports competition in Egypt.
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