The Appeals Committee of the Egyptian Football Association has decided to postpone the announcement of its decision regarding the appeals submitted by Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Pyramids FC concerning the events of the Cairo Derby match, which took place between Zamalek and Al Ahly in the first round of the second half of the Egyptian Premier League. This decision was made during the committee's session, chaired by Judge Mohamed Abdo Saleh, and the next session was scheduled for May 15th.

The statement issued by the committee explained that the postponement was due to the absence of the official reasons upon which the decisions being appealed were based, as provided by the Clubs Association. Therefore, the committee believes that the current documents are insufficient to settle the appeals from the different parties. According to the committee's statements, it is necessary to summon the Chairman of the Competitions Committee of the Clubs Association to attend the next session to clarify all the circumstances related to the case before issuing the final decision.

The Cairo Derby crisis began when Al Ahly announced its refusal to play against Zamalek on March 11, 2025, in protest against the lack of foreign referees for the match, which is a right granted to clubs under the Egyptian Football Association’s constitution in certain cases. This refusal led the Clubs Association to declare Zamalek as the winner of the match with a 3-0 scoreline, in accordance with Article 4.17 of the competition regulations.

Additionally, a decision was made to deduct three points from Al Ahly and charge the club for all financial losses resulting from the lack of participation, including the commercial revenue loss and related penalties, based on Article 8.17 of the same regulations. Subsequently, Al Ahly filed a complaint with the Egyptian Olympic Committee against the decisions of the Egyptian Football Association and the Clubs Association, protesting the imposed sanctions. However, the Olympic Committee rejected the complaint, asserting that the actions taken were valid.

In light of these developments, the Clubs Association decided to adjust its position after reviewing the legal memo submitted by Al Ahly. The association officially announced that the original penalty, which involved a three-point deduction from Al Ahly, had been revoked. The association also confirmed the match result, with Zamalek winning 3-0, while Al Ahly would still be liable for financial fines according to the regulations, but the points deduction would be annulled at the end of the season.

However, the Appeals Committee, which reviewed the appeals submitted by the concerned clubs, decided on May 8 to reserve the appeals and requested that the Clubs Association provide the full reasoning behind the decisions made earlier, specifically those issued on March 15 and 30. The committee has given all parties involved the opportunity to submit their documents and memorandums regarding the appeals within a week from the session date.

This major crisis in Egyptian football could have significant repercussions on the course of the Egyptian Premier League this season, especially given the tensions between the major clubs. The issue is not just about one match, but also sets a precedent in how such protests and punitive decisions are handled, making the Cairo Derby case more complex and sensitive in this context.

Al Ahly, which had demanded foreign referees for the Derby, believes that the decisions made against them earlier represent a form of injustice, while Zamalek officials believe that their victory was legitimate based on the available timeframes and the fact that the match was scheduled properly under the regulations.

In the end, the final decision by the Appeals Committee in its upcoming session is expected to have major implications on the relationship between the top clubs in Egypt and how major matches will be managed in the future.

The Appeals Committee will remain under close scrutiny in the coming days, with widespread anticipation from all involved parties, including Egyptian fans who are closely following the developments of this case.