The Egyptian FA and top-flight clubs do not stand a chance of fulfilling FIFA's compulsory requirements on time, with speculation about expulsion from regional and international competitions fuelled intensively. Over two years ago, the world governing body informed local associations of the requisite standards that must be met by the 2012-2013 season. But Egypt has witnessed no substantial development pertinent to this matter ever since. At least eight clubs out of 16 in the Egyptian Premier League have to turn pro by boasting their own top-notch stadiums and being financially independent among other obligations. The FA also has to give all Egyptian referees, who are relatively underpaid, a hefty salary raise as their monthly wages should be in the area of EGP 15,000. EFA official Fathi Nosir went through most of the mandatory conditions during a lengthy interview with Modern TV, leaving no doubt that Egypt has neither the resources nor the time to realize them. FIFA's Standards: •Each club should own a stadium with a parking space that accommodates up to 5,000 vehicles. An airport must be located within a 100-Km circumference too.
Ahli and Zamalek play home matches at Cairo Stadium On top of that, each venue must not be farther to a hospital than half an hour by car. Cairo pair Ahli and Zamalek, top two clubs in the country, do not have their own stadiums and like most of the Egyptian outfits, their financial restraints prevent them from building any. •Clubs must turn into independent joint-stock companies. No state-run sides will be allowed. Most of the Egyptian Premier League outfits are owned by the government, including Ismaili who are considered the third most popular club after Ahli and Zamalek. Petrojet and ENPPI are related to the petroleum sector. Harras Hodoud and Gaish are affiliated to the ministry of defense. Such a transformation will require the introduction of new legislations by the Egyptian Higher Council of Sport (HCS). •Referees won't be allowed to take up additional jobs. Their monthly salaries should be around EGP 15,000 per month. Egyptian referees are paid EGP 1500 per match after they were granted a pay rise by the EFA this season.
Al-Mestekawi •Both footballers and club officials will also be prohibited from having side careers. Of course that's not the case in Egypt. Three Hundred Years! Prominent Egyptian sport pundit Hassan Al-Mestekawi is convinced that no way will FIFA's demands be fulfilled in Egypt after one year. "We need 300 years not 12 months to realize these conditions," he said. "I just wonder why we started to work on this too late. We have known about FIFA's plans since 2007 and were officially informed of the new regulations in 2009. "But we only started to act these days!" No Egyptian club will be able to take part in continental tournaments unless they fulfill all the aforesaid standards.
