The Egyptian Football Association, headed by Engineer Hani Abu Rida, issued a strongly worded official statement expressing its deep displeasure and categorical condemnation of the offensive remarks made by Major General Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestinian Football Association, against Egyptian international referee Amin Omar. This firm stance came after Omar officiated the match between the Saudi and Palestinian national teams in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Arab Cup, hosted by Qatar, which ended with a 2-1 victory for the Saudi team.
A firm rejection of insults and a commitment to brotherly relations
The Egyptian Football Association, in its statement, expressed its deep astonishment at the remarks made by the president of the Palestinian Football Association, which it deemed unbecoming of the spirit of sportsmanship. The statement emphasized the deep historical and fraternal ties that bind Egyptian and Palestinian football. It clarified that maintaining mutual respect and cooperation between the brotherly Arab federations is a top priority, but this does not preclude taking a firm stance in defense of Egyptian referees against any transgressions.
The statement read: "The Egyptian Football Association expresses its complete rejection of the statements made, which are inconsistent with the values and principles upheld by FIFA regarding respect for the refereeing system and appreciation of the pivotal role of referees in managing competitions."
Amin Omar: An international career and continental confidence
In defending referee Amin Omar, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) extensively praised his competence, emphasizing that he is among the elite referees in Africa and the Arab region. This defense is based on the referee's impressive record of distinguished participation in continental and international tournaments, where he enjoys the confidence of the FIFA Referees Committee and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The EFA stated that questioning the integrity of a referee of this stature and using language unbecoming of a sportsman is completely unacceptable and inconsistent with the prestigious reputation that Egyptian refereeing has built over decades.
Background of the crisis and context of the match
The roots of the crisis lie in the press conference held by Jibril Rajoub following the Palestinian national team's loss to Saudi Arabia, where he launched a scathing attack, directly accusing the referee of "treachery and deceit." The Palestinian side's objections focused on key refereeing decisions, most notably the disallowance of a Palestinian goal, the referee's refusal to consult VAR in a play where Palestinians appealed for a penalty, and the controversy surrounding the failure to send off defender Mohammed Saleh.
This match holds particular significance as it is part of the Arab Cup, a tournament that has garnered widespread international and regional attention under the auspices of FIFA, placing considerable pressure on both referees and players. While knockout stage matches are typically highly sensitive, international standards always dictate a clear distinction between legitimate technical objections and personal attacks.
A call for restraint and prioritizing the public interest
The Egyptian Football Association concluded its statement by calling on its fellow Arab federations to exercise restraint and to consider the nature of the relationships between them, which transcends the results of matches. The Association urged everyone to refrain from populist statements that could incite fans, and instead to work towards strengthening Arab solidarity and serving the interests of football in the region, emphasizing that sport is a means of bringing people together, not of creating division.
