Zamalek refuse to play in Egyptian Super Cup

Zamalek players warm up during the Egyptian Premier League 2022/2023 match between Haras El Hodod and Zamalek at Military Academy Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on 13 April 2023 ©Weam Mostafa/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday May 02, 2023. 13:38

Ousted Zamalek president Mortada Mansour has revealed that the club have withdrawn from the Egyptian Super Cup just three days before their clash with Al Ahly.

The White Knights were scheduled to face their arch-rivals at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi on Friday in the annual match between the Egyptian Premier League champions and the Egypt Cup winners.

However, the Giza giants have decided to boycott the Super Cup due to grievances with the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), who opted to appoint local match officials for Friday’s game.

Mansour, who was forced to relinquish his role at the White Castle last month by Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, announced in a video on YouTube on Tuesday that the club’s board of directors had officially declined to participate against the Red Eagles.

“We will not participate in this [farce]… after the Football Association decided to hold the Super Cup with Egyptian referees, then we lose another new tournament like in the basketball final,” he said.

As per tournament regulations, Egypt Cup runners-up Pyramids will now be invited to take part in the Super Cup against Al Ahly.