A snap shot from the video released by EFA showing the new website released by Egypt's football refereeing committee. Photo courtesy of EFA.
The platform provides educational material and regular assessments for referees, to ensure greater consistency in decision-making during matches. It reflects the committee's focus on addressing shortcomings that drew widespread criticism last season, when refereeing performances were a frequent source of controversy.
The new system includes periodic tests overseen by committee officials, divided into a theoretical section and video-based analysis of refereeing situations covering handball, offside, advantage, fouls and the use of video assistant referees (VAR).
The platform also explains recent amendments to the Laws of the Game to be implemented this season, while physical tests are designed to help referees maintain and improve their fitness at different stages of the campaign.
The launch follows the EFA's decision to replace the previous refereeing committee, headed by Colombian former referee Oscar Ruiz, with a new panel featuring several officials with extensive international experience.
Abdel-Fattah is joined by former international referees Gamal El-Ghandour and Samir Osman as vice presidents, with Ahmed Wagih and Mahmoud Ashour serving as committee members.
The committee has divided its development programme among experienced former referees. Mohamed El-Sabahi will work with Ashour on developing VAR officials, while Mahmoud El-Banna, Mohamed El-Hanafi and Mohamed Youssef will work with match referees.
Ayman Degaish and Hany Abdel-Fattah will oversee the development of assistant referees, with the overall programme supervised by El-Ghandour.
The initiative comes against a backdrop of scepticism surrounding Egyptian refereeing even before the new season begins.
Ahly publicly criticised the EFA's decision to appoint Abdel-Fattah, saying the move did not inspire optimism or cooperation and raising concerns over refereeing decisions and statements made during the previous season.
Zamalek rejected what it described as an early campaign against Egyptian refereeing and opposition to the new committee before a ball had been kicked, saying attempts to question the integrity of referees or pressure them should be dismissed.
Osman has acknowledged shortcomings in the scientific preparation of referees during the previous period, saying the educational material provided and its practical application had not met required standards.
Abdel-Fattah has pledged that referees will be assessed against clear criteria and that mistakes will be addressed, while stressing the committee will treat all clubs equally.
The Premier League season is scheduled to begin on 21 August, leaving the new committee little time to show whether its training and assessment programme can translate into more consistent performances on the pitch.
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