Saad Shalaby, Al Ahly's executive director, stated that the club sent an official letter to the Egyptian Football Association "EFA", requesting foreign referees for the team's league games against Talae'ea El Gaish and Ceramica Cleopatra. 

The club requested that the referees should be chosen from any of the top five European leagues ( English Premier League - LaLiga - Bundesliga - Serie A - Ligue 1) and that the referees should be ranked among the top five in the league. 

Moreover, Shalaby said that the club attached to the letter a check for $80,000 as the cost of assigning the on-field referees and the VAR referees. 

Additionally, Al Ahly demands foreign referees for the team's next EPL games.