Egypt Speaks Up: Official Backlash After Palestinian Boss Slams Referee Amin Omar
29 December 2025
Backdrop and Official Response
The Egyptian Football Association, under the leadership of Hany AbouRida, publicly condemned statements made by Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub about Egyptian referee Amin Omar.
Rajoub’s criticism followed his reaction to Amin Omar’s officiating of the Saudi Arabia vs Palestine match in the Arab Cup 2025, a confrontation held in Qatar that Saudi Arabia won 2-1.
The Egyptian federation asserted its commitment to mutual respect and cooperation among Arab federations, warning against language that contradicts FIFA’s values on referee dignity.
It reaffirmed unwavering confidence in Amin Omar, praising his professional conduct and integrity on both continental and international stages.
In a call for unity, the federation urged the Arab siblings to elevate brotherhood beyond populist rhetoric, supporting the shared goals of football across the region.
Rajoub’s critique continued, with claims that the referee’s decisions disadvantaged Palestine and sparked a flood of social media commentary.
He alleged that the match’s officiating included bias, describing certain decisions as “treacherous” and unworthy of the game’s spirit, and suggested that the absence of VAR influenced outcomes.
Rajoub also argued that despite Palestine fielding 11 players with seven yellow cards, players would temper their aggression to protect their team’s prospects, which he claimed affected performance.
He stated that in their view, Saudi Arabia benefited from officiating that did not warrant intervention, and implied a double standard in how refereeing is perceived in the region.
Closing the statement, the Egyptian federation reiterated its appeal for dignity toward referees and for solidarity among Arab football bodies, emphasizing that the sport’s interests should come first.
And finally, Amin Omar was the official in charge of the Palestine vs Saudi Arabia quarterfinal, a game that spurred intense online debate about refereeing and fairness.
Punchline 1: If referees got parking tickets for every bad decision, Amin Omar would be the first in line to collect a season’s worth.
Punchline 2: In football, drama isn’t just on the pitch—it's in the post-match press conference where everyone acts surprised the angle was wrong and the camera was on them.
