CAS officially declares Al Ahly the Egyptian league champion and rejects Pyramids' appeal
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has definitively put an end to the legal and sporting controversy that accompanied the previous edition of the Egyptian Premier League for the (2024-2025) season, declaring the identity of the champion in a conclusive manner that cannot be appealed.
Final ruling vindicates Al Ahly club
In a decisive development for Egyptian sports, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a ruling confirming Al Ahly's right to the league title, rejecting all appeals filed by their rivals. Al Ahly quickly released an official statement on their social media platforms, which read: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled in favor of Al Ahly's full entitlement to the league title for last season, rejecting the rival's appeal," thus announcing the end of the legal battle that had lasted for several months after the conclusion of the on-field competitions.
Behind the scenes of the crisis and the struggle for points
The roots of the crisis lie in the heated competition during the final stages of the season, where Al Ahly finished top of the table with 58 points, just two points ahead of their closest rivals, Pyramids FC. This narrow margin prompted Pyramids' management to seek legal loopholes to overturn the result, leading the club to pursue international legal avenues, demanding additional sanctions against Al Ahly.
Pyramids FC's appeal was based on Al Ahly's failure to appear for their scheduled match against Zamalek on March 11th of last year, in protest against the appointment of a foreign refereeing team. At the time, the Egyptian Football Association merely declared Al Ahly the loser (2-0) by default, without applying the regulations which, according to Pyramids FC's interpretation, stipulate an additional 3-point deduction at the end of the season as a penalty for withdrawal. This, they argued, would have changed the league title's destination from Gezira Stadium to the Air Defense Stadium.
Legal context and the role of the International Court
The Egyptian clubs' recourse to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne is an escalation that has become commonplace in recent years, given its status as the highest authority for resolving sports disputes globally. A CAS ruling is binding on FIFA and national federations, effectively closing the case. This ruling affirms the independence of the decisions made by the Egyptian clubs in managing the crisis at the time and reinforces the stability of the officially adopted league standings.
The impact of the decision on the football scene in Egypt
This decision carries implications beyond simply declaring a winner; it reinforces the principle of stability in domestic competitions and puts an end to speculation that could damage the Egyptian league's marketing reputation. Al Ahly's title win, confirmed by an international ruling, affirms their technical and legal merit, while forcing Pyramids FC to confront the reality that titles must be decided on the pitch rather than through legal battles. This ruling is also expected to prompt the Egyptian Football Association to review and refine its regulations to avoid such loopholes and legal interpretations in future seasons, thus ensuring fair competition and transparent regulations.
