Ismaili would consider backing down on their decision to forfeit the league only if they received an official apology from the Egyptian FA. The coastal club's board announced withdrawing the first team from the Egyptian Premier League in protest over refereeing, following a 1-0 defeat at Gaish. “There is no backing down on the decision to forfeit the league. We would only consider that if the FA apologized to us,” Ismaili vice-chairman Hammad Moussa told FilGoal.com. “The FA's board will also have to promise us that they will relinquish their double-faced behavior.” Ismaili were furious with referee Fahim Omar in the wake of their Gaish loss, which came through a 77th penalty by Ghanaian Ernest Papa Arko. The defeat almost kicked the Dervishes out of the title race with Zamalek and Ahli.