The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) decided on Tuesday to cancel the mini three-team league which was supposed to determine who would be the 20th team in the new-look Egyptian Premier League.
The EFA initially said the league would be expanded to 20 teams after it decided to cancel relegation, citing the adverse effects of January’s revolution on bottom teams - Ittihad, Smouha and Arab Contractors.
Tersana, Mansoura and Aswan, who all finished runners up in their respective groups in the second division, played a three-team league to determine who would win promotion along with already-promoted trio Dakhleya, Ghazl El-Mahalla and Beni Suef Telephones.
The outcome was not decisive though as the three teams finished level on points, forcing a replay. They refused to play again and surprisingly asked the EFA to further increase the number of Premier League teams to 22.
“Tersana, Mansour and Aswan declined to attend the draw and declared that they would not play despite initially accepting the regulations of the mini-league,” the EFA said in a statement on its official website.
“The EFA has consequently canceled the mini league and decided to hold next season’s Premier League with 19 teams.”
The EFA, already under fire for a serious of controversial decisions, did not clarify the new format but said its committees will be responsible for announcing full details of the new system soon.
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