Al Ahly lodge complaint with CAF over referee, seek to overturn Gradisar red card

Al Ahly have officially lodged a complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against Senegalese referee Issa Sy, who officiated the CAF Champions League Round of 32 second-leg clash with Aigle Noir.

The Cairo giants were reduced to ten men just 15 minutes into Saturday’s match at Cairo International Stadium when Slovenian forward Nejc Gradisar was shown a straight red card following a challenge on an Aigle Noir defender.

Television replays appeared to show minimal contact between the two players, prompting widespread debate over the referee’s decision.

In the formal complaint, Al Ahly cited what is described as “numerous incorrect decisions” by Sy, foremost among them the “unjustified” dismissal of Gradisar.

The club also protested the referee’s failure to send off an Aigle Noir player who allegedly assaulted Al Ahly defender Ahmed Ramadan Bekham.

The statement, supported by video evidence, urged CAF not to impose any suspension on Gradisar, arguing that the referee’s decision “was not based on fact.”

Al Ahly emphasized that their appeal was made “in the interest of fairness and to uphold the integrity of African competitions.”