Ismailia-Yasser Al-Sherif: Ismaili board requested the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) to assign foreign referees for the team's pre-assumed game with Ahli in case the two teams clashed in the Egyptian Cup semis. Ismaili will face Haras Al-Hidoud in the quarter finals on Friday, and if they win they will face the winner from Ahli-Gaish clash in the semis. The Dervishes chairman Yahia Al-Koumi announced that the club is ready to bear the EGP 30,000 fee of acquiring a Non-Egyptian refereeing staff if the game went on. Al-Koumi said that the club means no disrespect for Egyptian officials, but they aim to prevent controversy from the usually tense game between the arch rivals. Egyptian champions Ahli's two-year unbeaten run was ended by Ismaili with a thumping 3-0 league win in January, and the Dervishes repeated the achievement with a 1-0 win in Ismailia last month. Ismaili, who were the only team to beat Ahli twice this season, consider the Egyptian Cup title as a top priority.
