Defending champions Zamalek decided to withdraw from the Egyptian Premier League in protest at what they described as "refereeing mistakes" during their first loss this season on Sunday.

"The club's board decided to stop competing in the Egyptian league after the refereeing mistakes against the team in Sunday's match against Talae El-Geish," reads a statement on Zamalek's official website, which was released before the final whistle of the Cairo giants' 3-2 defeat by the military side.

"This comes after the unfair decisions by referee Mahmoud El-Banaa in El-Geish match," the statement continues.

"The referee was appointed for the match despite the board's objection. It seems that what happened was on purpose to stop Zamalek's fine run and also to support our opponents who lost in their last match."

The statement was apparently referring to Zamalek's arch-rivals Ahly, who were battered 3-0 by visitors Smouha on Thursday.

Sunday's loss left Zamalek in sixth place with 13 points, seven behind leaders Dakhlya who played two extra matches. Meanwhile, Ahly lie ninth on the league table with nine points.

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