Khaled Galal warns: Egyptian Premier League will lose its charm if historic clubs get relegated

Khaled Galal says relegation of traditional clubs like Ismaily would seriously affect the Egyptian Premier League’s popularity and calls for urgent support

  Mon , May 18 2026 / 01:40 PM Updated At: 2026-05-18 13:40:39

⚽🗣️ Warning over the future of the league
Coach Khaled Galal has stressed that Egyptian football needs strong support for Ismaily to overcome its current crisis, emphasizing the importance of keeping traditional fan-based clubs in the Premier League ⚽🏟️.

He explained that the relegation of popular clubs would significantly weaken the competition’s appeal and identity 🔥.

🏟️⚠️ Ismaily under threat
Speaking in a radio interview 📻, Galal said the Egyptian league is entering a critical phase, warning that losing clubs like Ismaily and Ghazl El Mahalla would reduce the league’s excitement.

He added that the competition would become limited to only a few major clubs in terms of fan presence ⚽.

He also warned that the league could become “silent” without real crowd atmosphere 🗣️⚠️.

🏆⚽ Historic clubs at risk
Galal noted that the league may eventually be dominated by clubs like Al Ahly, Zamalek, Al Masry, and Ismaily in terms of fan engagement 🔴⚪.

He stressed that turning clubs into purely corporate entities could damage the league’s historical identity ⚠️.

🧠🔵 Criticism of Ismaily’s situation
Former Ismaily star Ayman Ragab also criticized the club’s management, saying the delay in appointing Khaled Galal had negatively affected results ⚽.

He pointed out that the team is suffering from poor physical performance, especially in second halves 📉.

He also questioned the long stay of former coach Miloud Hamdi 🧠⚠️.

🏟️ Management issues
Ragab added that decision-making problems inside the club have worsened the crisis, comparing the situation to other struggling clubs such as Zamalek 🔴.

⚠️ Registration crisis
He concluded by saying that registration issues remain a major challenge for both Ismaily and Zamalek, warning that lack of financial support could lead to further decline or even relegation 🔥📉.

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