The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has finally put an end to one of the longest legal crises in the history of Egyptian football, announcing that Al-Ahly Club will be crowned champions of the Egyptian Premier League for the 2024-2025 season, after rejecting the appeal submitted by Pyramids Club.

A final and decisive decision from the International Court

In a decisive development for Egyptian sports, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a ruling confirming Al Ahly's right to the title, thus ending the widespread controversy that had gripped sporting circles for the past several months. The decision upheld the final standings of the competition, with the court accepting the results as they were and without imposing any retroactive penalties that the opposing team's management had requested.

Official statement from Al Ahly Club

To celebrate this decision, Al Ahly Club released an official statement on its social media platforms, which read: “The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled in favor of Al Ahly Club, confirming its full entitlement to the league title for last season and rejecting the opponent’s appeal.” This ruling is considered a definitive international legal document that closes the door on any further legal interpretations in this complex case.

Behind the scenes of the crisis and the struggle for points

The roots of the crisis go back to the end of last season, when Al Ahly finished top of the table with 58 points, just two points ahead of their closest rivals, Pyramids FC, who finished with 56 points. Pyramids FC based their appeal on the competition's regulations, demanding that Al Ahly be docked three additional points, which would have dramatically altered the championship standings and handed the title to the Sky Blues by a single point.

Details of the withdrawal incident and foreign arbitration

The appeal was based on Al Ahly's withdrawal from the Cairo derby against Zamalek, which was scheduled for March 11th of last year. At that time, the Red Devils' management refused to play the match in protest against the failure to bring in a foreign refereeing team to officiate the crucial title-deciding fixture. The Egyptian Professional Football League (EFL) only applied the first part of the penalty, deeming Al Ahly to have forfeited the match (2-0) by default, but did not fully implement the regulations, which, according to some interpretations, stipulate an additional three-point deduction as a disciplinary penalty for withdrawals. This is the loophole that Pyramids FC attempted to exploit legally.

The dimensions of the referee and his impact on Egyptian football

This ruling carries significant weight beyond simply declaring the league champion; it reinforces the principle of stability in domestic competitions and affirms the authority of decisions made by local bodies, provided they fall within the bounds of reasonable discretion. Furthermore, this title solidifies Al Ahly's historical dominance in the league championship and underscores the legal acumen of its management in protecting the club's rights on the international stage.

On the other hand, the decision represents a blow to Pyramids FC's ambitions, as they had hoped to secure their first-ever league title through legal means, having come very close on the pitch. This ruling is expected to prompt Egyptian clubs to scrutinize regulations more closely before resorting to withdrawal or escalation, given the exorbitant costs and legal complexities that could potentially reach the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.

In a night of football that kept fans on the edge of their seats at the Camp Nou, Atlético Madrid the Copa del Rey final despite suffering a 3-0 defeat to hosts Barcelona on Tuesday night in the second leg of their semi-final tie. Los Rojiblancos progressed thanks to their emphatic victory in the first leg, winning the tie 4-3 on aggregate in a dramatic and thrilling encounter.

Details of the exciting Camp Nou night

The Catalan team entered the match fully aware of the daunting task ahead after their crushing 4-0 defeat in the first leg at the Riyadh Metropolitano Stadium. Nevertheless, Barcelona displayed an unwavering desire to achieve the impossible from the opening minutes, buoyed by the chants of their fans who believed a comeback was possible.

Marc Bernal opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 29th minute, giving the home side hope. Before the first half drew to a close, Brazilian star Rafinha doubled the lead with a penalty, sending the teams into the dressing room with Barça ahead by two goals, further increasing the psychological pressure on Diego Simeone's men.

The unfulfilled dream of a comeback

As the second half began, Barcelona continued their intense attacking pressure, and the brilliant Marc Bernal to score again, netting his second personal goal and his team's third in the 72nd minute. At this moment, the stands erupted and Barcelona needed only one more goal to equalize the overall score and take the match to extra time.

The final minutes saw a complete Catalan siege of Atlético Madrid's penalty area, with the home side retreating deep to defend their qualification. Despite desperate attempts and a barrage of chances, the visitors' defense held firm against the onslaught, and the match ended with a morale-boosting victory for Barcelona, ​​though it wasn't enough to salvage their cup campaign. The defending champions were eliminated from the competition despite their heroic performance in the second leg.

The importance of qualifying and anticipating the other side

This qualification is a significant achievement for Atlético Madrid, who are looking to salvage their season with a major domestic title, capitalizing on their commanding lead from the first leg, which proved to be the true advantage they built on in the tense second leg. Conversely, the elimination represents a painful blow for Barcelona, ​​who had hoped to turn the tables and write a new chapter in the history of comebacks.

Now, the eyes of Spanish football fans and Atletico Madrid supporters are turning towards the other semi-final match, where the Madrid team awaits the winner of the fiery Basque derby between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao , to find out their opponent in the anticipated final and compete for the coveted title.