📢 World Cup Referees Were Unavailable for the Derby
Essam Abdel Fattah has revealed new details about the search for an experienced foreign referee to officiate the highly anticipated Al Ahly vs Zamalek derby.
The Egyptian Football Association eventually appointed a Slovenian team led by Rade Obrenović to take charge of the match.
Speaking to presenter Seham Saleh on the “El Clasico” program on ON E, Abdel Fattah explained that the refereeing committee contacted several officials who had previously officiated at the World Cup as part of its search for a referee with strong international experience.
⭐ Champions League Commitments Caused Rejections
Abdel Fattah said some of the referees contacted by the committee declined the invitation because they were scheduled to officiate UEFA Champions League matches just 24 hours after the derby, making it impossible for them to travel to Egypt for the fixture.
The comments highlight the difficulty involved in securing elite European officials during a period packed with major continental fixtures.
The refereeing committee had previously contacted several major European associations as part of its efforts to bring in a foreign team for the Cairo derby.
🔥 Rade Obrenović Gets the Final Call
After a series of contacts and discussions, the final decision went to Slovenian referee Rade Obrenović.
Obrenović has been an international referee since 2017 and is regarded by the refereeing committee as an elite UEFA official. His most recent international match involving national teams was Belgium’s Nations League meeting with France on September 28, 2026.
The Slovenian officiating team also includes assistant referees Jure Praprotnik and Grega Kordež, fourth official David Šmajc, VAR referee Matej Jug and AVAR David Gabrivc.
🏆 Refereeing Committee Wanted the Strongest Option
Abdel Fattah stressed that the committee made every possible effort to find the strongest available option for the derby.
The match is one of the biggest fixtures in Egyptian football, with enormous attention from both fanbases, making the experience and international background of the referee particularly important.
He also emphasized that the unavailability of some high-profile referees should not be interpreted as a weakness in the final appointment, pointing instead to Obrenović’s international experience and credentials.
The Egyptian FA officially announced the Slovenian team for the match, which is scheduled for Sunday, October 11, 2026, in the sixth round of the Egyptian Premier League.
⚽ All Eyes on Obrenović
With the refereeing appointment now settled, attention turns to the preparations of both Al Ahly and Zamalek for the highly anticipated Cairo derby.
Obrenović will face the challenge of managing one of Egyptian football’s most intense fixtures, where every major decision is likely to come under close scrutiny.
Do you think Rade Obrenović is the right choice to referee the Al Ahly vs Zamalek derby? ⚽🔥
