Al-Shamshi released a rare statement on Friday to list his grievances, issuing stern criticism of football authorities.

Pyramids finished as runners-up in the Egyptian Premier League last season for their best ever position but felt hard done by after being denied a place in the lucrative African Champions League.

Ahly, who eventually finished third, earned the second Champions League ticket instead along with domestic league winners Zamalek, to the dismay of Pyramids.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) picked the Cairo duo because the prolonged season had not ended yet when it was required to submit a list of the clubs that would take part in the Champions League, leaving them with no option but to stick to the previous season's choices.

"It's not acceptable that the league's runners-up be forced to play in the (Africa's secondary competition) Confederation Cup against their will even though it's their right to play in the Champions League, unless there is a reason for this unjust decision that we don't know," Al-Shamsi's statement read.

Al-Shamsi went on to complain of several other decisions, including forcing his side to play six out of 13 league matches in the afternoon, unlike main challengers Ahly and Zamalek who mostly play in the evening.

He also hit out at refereeing in the premier domestic competition, singling out Pyramids' 1-1 draw with Future FC on Wednesday.

He said Future were awarded two "imaginary" penalties and criticised the referee for a "catastrophic" decision to resume play when Pyramids playmaker Abdallah El-Said, who had just been red-carded, was still on the pitch.

The bizarre incident, which saw Future almost score from a quick breakaway, made rounds on social media, with many users saying the referee's decision was inexplicable.

"In case such injustice persists, we will regrettably start to take decisive decisions over whether to continue investing in the club or not because it's not possible to continue operations amid these circumstances, which run contrary to any prospects of football development," Al-Shamsi added.

"I call on all of those who manage Egyptian football to immediately intervene and stop that series of grave injustice."

Al-Shamsi bought Pyramids in July 2019 from Saudi General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Al-Sheikh. The club have failed to deliver silverware despite boasting a star-studded squad though.

They lost to Zamalek in the Egypt Cup final in 2019 before suffering a defeat by Morocco's RS Berkane in the Confederation Cup final a year later.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)