Video assistance for referees will be a reality at Egyptian league games next month, Egyptian FA official Essam Abdel-Fattah announced on Monday. "Video assistance for referees' technology will be applied in Egypt within 20 days or a month," Abdel-Fattah told reporters. "Referees are to start training on the new technology as soon as possible to be ready to use it when the league resumes." The decision comes amid a raging dispute between Zamalek and the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) over a game-changing mistake by the referee during Zamalek's 0-1 loss to Maqassa in an Egyptian league game on Friday. International referee Gehad Gerisha denied Zamalek a second-half penalty kick with 24 minutes from time when he did not whistle a play by Maqassa's Ahmed Sami who extended his arm inside the area to block a cross, Zamalek players and technical staff left the pitch fuming at the official's decision near the end of regulation, but to no avail. Immediately after the game, Zamalek management threatened to pull out from the league unless the match is re-played. "We will withdraw from the Egyptian league unless the Maqassa match is being replayed," Zamalek's angry president Mortada Mansour told a TV programme after the match. Zamalek's league title hopes were dealt a stinging blow with Friday's loss, as they remained third in the league table with 40 points, 12 points behind leaders Ahly who have played one game more. The EFA have rejected Zamalek's threats, accrediting the game's result by the competition's committee on Sunday one day before president Hani Abou Reida confirmation that “the game will not be replayed.” The EFA issued a statement on Monday demanding all clubs respect referees' decisions, stressing that refereeing mistakes “are part of football games” and all mistakes are “unintentional.” Video assistance for referees was tested at the Club World Cup in Japan last December. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said earlier this week that it could be a reality at next year's World Cup finals. The Netherlands implements the video assisatance for referees in its premier league. The Bundesliga is considering following suit in local competition next season.
