Egyptian Football Association categorically denies
In official statements, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) put an end to the ongoing debate surrounding the future of the Egyptian Premier League this season, categorically denying reports circulating about any intention to cancel the competition. The EFA confirmed that this proposal was never even discussed within its ranks, emphasizing that the competition will continue until its conclusion according to the planned schedule.
This denial came from Mustafa Abu Zahra, a member of the Egyptian Football Association's board of directors, who stressed that the idea of canceling the league was completely out of the question. Abu Zahra explained that the competition is tied to lucrative sponsorship and television broadcasting rights contracts, in addition to obligations to clubs, players, referees, and a sponsoring company bearing the tournament's name. This makes cancellation virtually impossible without force majeure. He asked rhetorically, "Do we even have a coronavirus pandemic that would warrant considering canceling the league?" implying that the current circumstances do not justify such an extreme measure.
The historical context of the cancellation of the Egyptian League
Historically, the decision to cancel the Egyptian Premier League has only been made in exceptional and compelling circumstances that affected the stability of the entire country. The most prominent of these cases was the 2011-2012 season, which was canceled following the tragic Port Said Stadium disaster, leading to a prolonged suspension of sporting activity. The 2019-2020 season also saw a temporary halt due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, but the tournament was later completed after the implementation of strict health protocols. This historical record confirms that the decision to cancel is only made in the most limited circumstances and for reasons that go beyond mere fixture congestion or technical crises.
The economic and sporting importance of completing the season
Completing the Egyptian Premier League is of paramount importance, both economically and in terms of sporting success. Economically, the league is a vital lifeline for Egyptian clubs, which rely heavily on television broadcasting revenue, sponsorship deals, and advertising. Any decision to cancel the season would result in significant financial losses for all parties involved and could lead to legal disputes with sponsors and broadcasters.
On the sporting front, completing the season is essential to determining the league champion, the teams relegated to the lower division, and, most importantly, the clubs qualifying for continental competitions (the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup). This directly impacts the reputation and standing of Egyptian football on the continental stage. Furthermore, the regularity of the competition ensures the maintenance of the players' technical and physical fitness, which is vital for the national team, which relies on these players for international matches.
Integrated coordination to support the national team
Abu Zahra pointed to the complete coordination between the Egyptian Football Association and the Professional Clubs Association, which manages the league competition. He explained that the association sets the general policies for the game, while the association manages the competition, emphasizing that the shared goal of everyone is to support the national team and provide all means for its success. He denied the existence of any crises or disagreements within the system, stressing that the current stage requires everyone to unite and refrain from "irresponsible talk" that could harm the stability of Egyptian football.
