When the Whistle Speaks: Egypt’s Referee Crisis Reaches the President

Mahmoud Banna’s Direct Appeal to the President

In recent hours, a heated debate has swept the Egyptian sports scene after international referee Mahmoud Banna issued an urgent appeal addressed to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, shortly after announcing his retirement.

His statement criticized how the refereeing system is currently managed, accusing a heavy reliance on foreign experts, the sidelining of Egyptian talents, and the waste of public funds without tangible technical gains.

The Egyptian Football Association issued a formal response, saying it has followed the matter from its onset and has referred the complaints of Banna and Sami Helhal, who spoke on social media, to the Main Referees Committee led by international expert Oscar Ruiz for action under the governing laws.

The Federation’s Response and Roadmap for Refereeing Reform

In his extended message, Banna spoke with a tone of sadness, insisting on revealing what he called the full truth. He said he chose to address the president after feeling that there was no internal referee listening within the system.

He referenced President Sisi’s past remarks about bringing in foreign coaches for the national team and questioned why foreigners were brought in if results remained unchanged.

Banna argued that the same pattern persists in the refereeing setup, where foreigners are invited not for genuine development but for financial gain and to marginalize national talents. He stressed that Egyptian referees are capable and internationally recognized.

He noted that the head of the current referees committee, Oscar Ruiz, has not been physically present in Egypt sufficiently, spending much of the past two months abroad for tournaments in Chile and the World Cup for under-20s, then in Qatar for the World Cup for under-17s, while still drawing a sizable salary from the federation’s budget—an arrangement he called a waste of public money.

Banna described FIFA’s requests for refereeing development lectures as a sign that Egyptian expertise is qualified and trustworthy, citing that FIFA once sent an Egyptian lecturer, Captain Tamer Dray, which he used as evidence that Egyptian talent is capable yet being sidelined locally.

He asked incredulously whether a country as large as Egypt cannot produce thousands of referees of Jamal al-Ghandour’s caliber, insisting the nation is full of qualified professionals and that fairness, recognition, and equal opportunity are what the system needs.

In closing, Banna stressed that he seeks no personal gain after retirement but speaks to rescue the refereeing system, protect public funds, and safeguard the future of young referees. He urged President Sisi to intervene to restore discipline and transparency, trusting in the president’s wisdom and commitment to state institutions.

Reply from the Football Association: Investigation Continues and Development Plan Advances

From its side, the Egyptian Football Association issued a formal statement saying it followed the complaints by Banna and Helhal and referred them to the Main Referees Committee under Oscar Ruiz for study and action according to the regulations.

The federation also said it had asked the referees committee to publicly disclose the criteria for selecting the international list to ensure transparency, fairness, and a fresh influx of young referees in line with international standards.

It was also stressed that the engagement of foreign refereeing experts occurred at the request of clubs participating in the Premier League, following repeated complaints about match officiating. The federation said the aim is to support the system, raise performance, and reinforce transparency.

The statement added that Oscar Ruiz is part of a broader reform plan, including updating technical and physical preparation programs for referees, scientifically evaluating performances, and promoting promising talent to ensure a sustainable, Africa-competitive officiating framework.

The federation emphasized its respect for Egyptian talents and the proud history of domestic referees, while also embracing the benefits of modern international expertise as part of a larger reform agenda that encompasses all aspects of the game.

A Continuing Crisis and Forecasts for Further Moves

The dispute between Egyptian referees and the federation blueprints a renewed push to overhaul officiating in a league often rocked by refereeing controversies. Clubs have repeatedly called for higher standards in match management.

Insiders believe the crisis will not end soon; Banna’s appeal could trigger additional reviews within the federation and possibly reevaluate the role of foreign experts, especially given frequent criticisms about the gap between the head of the referees committee and many local referees.

Meanwhile, the federation remains committed to its development plan and pledges to study all complaints legally and impartially, aiming to build a robust, accountable refereeing system ready to compete across Africa.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the whistle may whistle loudly, but it needs a trustworthy voice behind it. The art of fair play depends on both courage and accountability—and maybe a few more Egyptian talents stepping into the limelight.

So, in the words of the hopeful observer: football is a game of inches, and integrity is the must-have cleat. And if the whistle ever feels lonely, you can always count on a referee to call it out—even if the crowd is deafening.

Punchline time: If refereeing were a delivery service, Egypt would rate five stars for speed, zero stars for accountability—until someone finally updates the tracking app. Punchline two: In the world of football, the only thing louder than a whistle should be accountability, because fans deserve a fair call and a good joke after a long season.