The controversy surrounding media personality Karim Hassan Shahat’s comments about the Al Ahly-ZED match continues to grow after he discussed an incident allegedly involving referee Mohamed Maarouf and Al Ahly sporting director Wael Gomaa, claiming that the referee asked for Ali Mahmoud to be substituted to avoid a possible second yellow card and sending-off. ⚽🔥
The incident has generated significant debate, particularly because different accounts have emerged regarding what actually took place between the referee and Al Ahly’s administrative staff. The Egyptian Referees Committee has now become directly involved, with officials preparing to review the details and potentially take an official decision.
Karim Hassan Shahat Reveals the Incident
Karim Hassan Shahat, speaking on Al Hayah TV, claimed that referee Mohamed Maarouf spoke to Wael Gomaa during the Al Ahly-ZED match about Ali Mahmoud, who had already received a yellow card.
According to Shahat, Maarouf asked Al Ahly’s sporting director to remove the player from the pitch, explaining that Ali Mahmoud was already on a yellow card and that the referee would not be able to protect him from receiving a second booking that could result in a red card.
The claim immediately triggered widespread debate because the alleged conversation concerns a sensitive refereeing situation involving a player already carrying a booking. 📢
Wael Gomaa Strongly Denies the Claim
Wael Gomaa, meanwhile, categorically denied that Mohamed Maarouf had spoken to him about the matter during the match.
The Al Ahly sporting director stressed that the alleged incident never happened and that reports claiming the referee asked him to substitute Ali Mahmoud because of the risk of a red card were untrue.
Gomaa described the reports as “false and incorrect,” increasing the importance of determining the facts through official channels and recordings rather than relying on conflicting accounts.
Al Ahly Consider Legal Action
A source inside Al Ahly revealed that the club’s management are considering the statements made by Karim Hassan Shahat and the allegations surrounding the ZED match.
The source explained that the club is taking the matter seriously and is currently reviewing what was reported and examining all available details before deciding what legal steps could be taken.
Al Ahly do not appear to be seeking a rushed response, instead focusing first on establishing what actually happened before determining the club’s position. 🔴
Essam Abdel Fattah: Decisive Measures on Monday
Essam Abdel Fattah, chairman of the Referees Committee, has now become directly involved, confirming that the incident will receive a formal review.
Abdel Fattah said the Referees Committee will hold an official meeting on Monday to discuss the matter and that decisions will be made following the meeting, with the possibility of an official statement from the Egyptian Football Association.
The committee chairman also stressed that statements containing allegations against Egyptian refereeing are being taken seriously, pointing to frustration within the refereeing family over some of the claims being circulated about match officials.
Will VAR Recordings Reveal the Truth?
One of the main issues expected to be discussed is whether the recording of referee Mohamed Maarouf’s communication with the VAR room during the Al Ahly-ZED match should be examined.
Essam Abdel Fattah confirmed that the committee has not yet reviewed the recordings related to the incident and that the matter will be considered during Monday’s meeting.
This step could prove particularly important because it may help determine whether Karim Hassan Shahat’s account is accurate, especially if the alleged incident relates to a recorded conversation involving the match officials.
If recordings relevant to the controversy exist, reviewing them could become the decisive factor in establishing what happened, away from conflicting accounts. 🎙️⚽
Referees Committee Warns of Strong Measures
Essam Abdel Fattah confirmed that the Referees Committee is preparing to take decisive action against what he described as attacks on Egyptian refereeing.
He indicated that all options will be considered during the committee meeting, including possible action before the relevant authorities, with the objective of protecting referees and match officials from accusations that could affect their reputation.
The comments come amid continued controversy surrounding refereeing at the beginning of the season, particularly with repeated debates over decisions and media statements related to officials.
Shobeir Questions the Story
Media personality Ahmed Shobeir also commented on Karim Hassan Shahat’s statements, saying he believed greater verification was necessary before the information was presented publicly.
Shobeir stressed that the allegation involved a serious incident and that information of this nature should be confirmed through reliable sources before being broadcast.
He revealed that he personally contacted four different sources to verify what happened and said all four denied that the alleged conversation between Mohamed Maarouf and Wael Gomaa had taken place.
Shobeir: Karim Was Misled by His Source
Shobeir maintained that the information he received from his sources indicated that the incident did not happen, suggesting that the source who provided the original information to Karim Hassan Shahat had misled him.
He emphasized the importance of verifying sensitive information before publishing or broadcasting it, particularly when it concerns referees and situations that could carry disciplinary or legal consequences.
The issue highlights the importance of relying on multiple credible sources when dealing with information involving refereeing, clubs and match officials.
Monday Meeting Could Clarify the Situation
The Referees Committee, headed by Essam Abdel Fattah, is expected to meet on Monday to discuss several important files, including the analysis of controversial incidents from the second round of the Egyptian Premier League.
The meeting will also address Karim Hassan Shahat’s statements regarding the Al Ahly-ZED match, as well as the possibility of reviewing the match recordings to determine what actually happened.
The committee is also expected to discuss what it described as inappropriate comments from a former international referee toward Essam Abdel Fattah, making the meeting particularly significant for the Egyptian refereeing system.
The Crisis Remains Open
Despite the conflicting accounts between Karim Hassan Shahat’s claim and Wael Gomaa’s denial, as well as the statements from the sources cited by Ahmed Shobeir, the final outcome remains dependent on the official review.
If the recordings establish that the alleged conversation did not occur, the situation could move toward a different phase involving the statements themselves and the source of the information.
If the recordings reveal different details, the Referees Committee is expected to handle the matter according to the relevant regulations and procedures.
✨ The Al Ahly-ZED match has therefore become about more than the result on the pitch, as an alleged refereeing conversation has developed into a major controversy awaiting the Referees Committee meeting, with significant attention on what the match recordings could reveal.
📢 Do you expect the VAR recordings to settle the dispute over Mohamed Maarouf’s alleged conversation with Wael Gomaa? Should the Referees Committee take decisive action regarding the statements? Share your opinion in the comments. ⚽🔥
