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Monday, 17 April 2017

Video: Famous match withdrawals in Egyptian league history

A list of the most famous match withdrawals in the Egyptian league history after Zamalek declined to feature in a game against Maqassa on Sunday

Ahram Online , Sunday 16 Apr 2017
Zamalek
File photo of an Egyptian Premier League game between Zamalek and Maqassa (Ahram)
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Ahly-Tersana (1988)

Ahly decided not to play their remaining two matches in the league against Tersana and Zamalek in protest at some refereeing decisions that went against them in a previous match against Ghazl El-Mahalla.

Tersana and the referees were present on the pitch on 16 May 1988 but Ahly never showed up. The Egyptian Football Association's board was eventually disbanded and the match replayed. 

Ahly-Arab Contractors (1993)

Ahly declined to show up in a league match against Arab Contractors, arguing that their opponents should have played a rescheduled match before facing them.

Contractors were initially awarded a 2-0 walkover win but Ahly threatened to withdraw from the league, prompting the sports minister to dissolve the Egyptian Football Association's board of directors and order a replay of the match.

Ahly-Zamalek Cairo derby (1996)

Zamalek withdrew when Ahly took a 2-0 lead five minutes from time in the Cairo derby on 25 June 1996.

Hossam Hassan looked to have killed off Zamalek's hopes with a goal on the turn but the White Knights alleged that the prolific goal-scorer was in an offside position.

Zamalek declined to complete the match and Ahly were awarded a 2-0 win.

Ahly's second goal which prompted Zamalek to withdraw from the match

Ahly-Zamalek Cairo derby (1999)

Zamalek withdrew from the Cairo derby again three years later in protest at a straight red card handed to midfielder Ayman Abdel-Aziz for a tackle from behind on Ahly's right-back Ibrahim Hassan.

Abdel-Aziz was dismissed after four minutes on 9 April 1999 in what was called the shortest match in the league history, infuriating Zamalek coach Farouk Gaafar who opted against completing the match.

Zamalek were deducted nine points and Farouk was given a two-year suspension.

The red card that Zamalek's Ayman Abdel-Aziz received after a foul on Ahly's Ibrahim Hassan

Zamalek-Maqassa (2017)

A league clash between Zamalek and Maqassa was abandoned on Sunday after the Cairo giants made a rare move of fulfilling a promise to withdraw from the match.

Zamalek's outspoken chairman Mortada Mansour was ridiculed by rival fans on social media more than once this season after making repeated empty promises to pull the club out of the premier domestic competition.

However, he made good on his promise this time round, with Zamalek failing to show up at Cairo's Petrosport Stadium for the scheduled 07:00 PM kick-off. Maqassa were present at the venue.

The referee waited for 20 minutes on the pitch before abandoning the match.

According to the EFA regulations, Maqassa are expected to be awarded a walkover win, with Zamalek, who conducted a training session at the club's headquarters instead of going to the league clash, likely to be deducted three more points when the Egyptian Football Association's competitions committee announces its decisions over the forfeited game.

Zamalek decline to show up at Cairo's Petrosport Stadium for an Egyptian league clash against Maqassa

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