Ahly have asked the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) to appoint European referees for the team's remaining games in the Egyptian league, stressing the Cairo giants will bear the cost of hiring them.

"Ahly have sent an official request to the EFA to appoint European referees for the team's remaining games in the Egyptian league," read a statement on the club's official website on Tuesday. "The club will bear the coast of the appointment of the referees."

The Cairo giants slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Ghazl El-Mahalla on Monday in a game that saw many objections from Ahly's management regarding the referee performance.

According to the club the referee turned down a certain penalty for the team's fullback Mohamed Hani and he rejected a deserved red card to Ghazl El-Mahalla defender Mohamed Fathallah.

It is likely that the EFA will turn-down Ahly's request as the football governing body in the country refused to appoint a foreign referee for the Cairo derby - usually officiated by a foreign referee - three weeks earlier opting for a local-based referee.

"IF the EFA rejected our request, they should reveal the reasons of their refusal especially that the club will bear the coast of the appointment of the foreign referees

Ahly lost eight points in their four previous games in the Egyptian league.

They lie second in the league table with 37 points, four points behind leaders Zamalek but they have two matches on hand.

The Red Devils will have a tough mission on Thursday when they face Ittihad of Alexandria, before hosting Zamalek in the Cairo derby, four days later.

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