The 2019–20 Egyptian Premier League, also known as The WE League for sponsorship purposes, is the 61st season of the Egyptian Premier League, the top Egyptian professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1948. The season began on 21 September 2019 and will conclude on 31 October 2020. Fixtures for the 2019–20 season were announced on 12 September 2019.
Defending champions Al Ahly won their 5th consecutive and 42nd overall Egyptian Premier League title on 18 September 2020, following Zamalek's 1–0 defeat against Aswan.
On 14 March 2020, a decision was made by the Egyptian Football Association to postpone all football activities in Egypt due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The initial suspension, until 29 March, was then extended multiple times until at least mid-July. On 2 July 2020, the EFA announced that the league would recommence on 6 August, and confirmed that all clubs' players and staff will be tested for COVID-19 before resuming training.
Overview VAR introduction In August 2019, Egyptian Football Association acting-president Amr El Ganainy revealed the intentions to implement the video assistant referee (VAR) technology in the Egyptian Premier League starting from the second half of the 2019–20 season; stating that this would be a huge step forward for Egyptian football. Three months later, the EFA started a four-month training programme headed by EFA head of referees committee Gamal El Ghandour and Egyptian international referee Gehad Grisha for Egyptian referees to prepare them for the VAR introduction.
In late January 2020, the EFA received final IFAB approval for VAR usage in the domestic competitions after fulfilling all the necessary requirements to introduce VAR technology into Egyptian football. By the end of the training programmes held by the EFA, El Ghandour announced that 52 new Egyptian referee have received a VAR license; describing it as a "miracle" to have from 4 to 56 licensed referee in just four months.
The VAR technology was officially introduced in the Egyptian Premier League on 5 March 2020 in a match between Tala'ea El Gaish and ENPPI at Gehaz El Reyada Stadium.
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic After the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Egypt on 14 February 2020, the Egyptian Football Association revealed that there is no intentions to postpone football activities in Egypt and instead they announced a series of precautionary measures to be used by all clubs' players and staff. By the arrival of the first COVID-19 case in Egypt, the league was paused for the mid-season break.
On 10 March 2020, the EFA decided to continue the league behind closed doors until further notice to avoid the spreading of the disease. However, after the number of infected people in Egypt reached 110 cases just four days later of the initial announcement, the EFA decided to suspend all football activities in Egypt until at least 29 March 2020.
Resumption On 1 July 2020, Zamalek refused to resume training or return to complete the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country unless a "cure" for coronavirus is found, this came after the club's goalkeeper Mohammed Awad revealed he had tested positive for COVID-19 on 26 June. Football activities were due to return on 25 July after the government allowed teams to resume training in June
Nevertheless, the EFA announced on 3 July 2020 that the season would commence on 6 August 2020 after almost five months of being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season would commence its schedule in two phases starting with the postponed games according to the head of Competitions Committee Hossam El Zanati.
The first phase will include the games scheduled to be played from 6 August until the end of the month, while the second phase of the games are scheduled to be played starting from 1 September until the end of the season. These will be revealed when the EFA reaches a final agreement concerning the Aswan Stadium as the venue for matches after clubs rejected Aswan Stadium located south of Cairo, as the proposed location for matches to be played citing the distance and long journey for the players and after CAF decides the final dates for the Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals and finals.
The EFA in June had implemented safety guidelines and testing procedures for players mandating two tests with five days separating each test, since then 19 tests have returned positive with individuals in isolation.
Teams
Eighteen teams will compete in the league - the top fifteen teams from the previous season, and three teams promoted from the Egyptian Second Division.
Teams promoted to the Egyptian Premier League The first team to be promoted was Aswan from Group A, as they secured the promotion to the Egyptian Premier League following their 2–1 away win against Al Nasr Lel Taa'den on 4 April 2019. The club returned to the Egyptian Premier League after staying two seasons in the Egyptian Second Division, and will play in the top flight for the tenth time in their history.
The second team to be promoted was Tanta from Group C, as they sealed the promotion to the Egyptian Premier League following their 2–0 away win against Sidi Salem on 11 April 2019. The club returned to the Egyptian Premier League after spending only one season in the Egyptian Second Division, as they were relegated from the Egyptian Premier League during the 2017–18 season. This season will mark the fifteenth appearance for Tanta in the Egyptian Premier League.
The third team to be promoted was FC Masr from Group B, as they earned the promotion to the Egyptian Premier League following their 0–0 away draw with Al Merreikh on 18 April 2019. The club earned the promotion after an intense contents with 4 other clubs for the only promotion spot from their group. FC Masr will play in the Egyptian Premier League for the first time in the club's history.
Teams relegated to the Egyptian Second Division The first club to be relegated was Nogoom, who suffered an immediate return to the Egyptian Second Division following a 2–1 away defeat to Misr Lel Makkasa on 10 May 2019. Despite defeating Zamalek 1–0 earlier in the previous season and having a great start, the club started slowly to collapse which eventually made them finish in the last place.
The second club to be relegated was El Dakhleya, who were relegated from the Egyptian Premier League for the first time in their history following a 2–1 home defeat to Zamalek on 12 May 2019; ending their stay in the league that lasted for eight years. El Dakhleya were one of eight clubs that are not founding members of the Egyptian Premier League and have never been relegated since their debut in the top flight.
The third club to be relegated was Suez-based side Petrojet, who were also relegated from the Egyptian Premier League for the first time in their history following a 0–0 draw with Al Mokawloon Al Arab on 3 June 2019; ending their top flight spell of thirteen years. Similar to El Dakhleya, Petrojet were one of eight clubs that are not founding members of the Egyptian Premier League and have never been relegated since their debut in the top flight.
Venues Al Ahly Aswan ENPPI Cairo International Stadium Aswan Stadium Petro Sport Stadium Capacity: 75,000 Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 16,000 El Entag El Harby FC Masr El Gouna Al Salam Stadium Cairo Military Academy Stadium Khaled Bichara Stadium Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 28,500 Capacity: 12,000 Haras El Hodoud Ismaily Al Ittihad Haras El Hodoud Stadium Ismailia Stadium Alexandria Stadium Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 18,525 Capacity: 19,676 Al Masry Misr Lel Makkasa Al Mokawloon Al Arab Egyptian Army Stadium Al Salam Stadium Osman Ahmed Osman Stadium Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 35,000 Pyramids Smouha Tala'ea El Gaish 30 June Stadium Alexandria Stadium Gehaz El Reyada Stadium Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 19,676 Capacity: 20,000 Tanta Wadi Degla Zamalek Tanta Club Stadium Petro Sport Stadium Cairo International Stadium Capacity: 8,000 Capacity: 16,000 Capacity: 75,000
Notes
Personnel and kits Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorUmbroWE, SAIB Bank, Royal Dutch Shell, Tiger Chips, GLC PaintsAswanUhlsportN/AENPPINikeN/AUhlsportN/AFC MasrMacronN/AAdidasO West, Orascom DevelopmentUhlsportN/AIsmailyJakoN/AXtepN/AKelmeN/AMisr Lel MakkasaNikeN/AKelmeN/APyramidsAdidasSwypSmouhaNikeN/AMacronN/ATantaUhlsportN/AWadi DeglaJomaFACE for Children in Need, CaltexZamalekPumaN/A 1. On the back of shirt. 2. On the sleeves. WE, Oppo, El Kasrawy Group, SAIB Bank, EgyptAir and GLC Paints are the league's main sponsors, and their logos are printed on most teams' kits. Referee kits are made by Puma.
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment End of caretaker spell29 July 2019Pre-season 29 July 2019Zamalek Sacked29 July 2019 2 August 2019FC Masr Resigned5 August 2019 6 August 2019Zamalek End of caretaker spell18 August 2019 18 August 2019 Sacked18 August 2019 18 August 2019 End of caretaker spell31 August 2019 31 August 2019Ismaily Resigned31 August 2019 31 August 2019FC Masr 6 September 2019 7 September 2019ENPPI 17 October 201918th 18 October 2019Tala'ea El Gaish Mutual consent13 November 201917th 13 November 2019Ismaily Sacked2 December 201912th (caretaker)2 December 2019Zamalek 2 December 20195th 3 December 2019 10 December 201917th (caretaker)10 December 2019Pyramids 19 December 20197th (caretaker)19 December 2019 End of caretaker spell22 December 201911th 22 December 2019Pyramids 27 December 20195th 27 December 2019Ismaily 7 January 202011th 7 January 2020Smouha Resigned12 January 20207th 12 January 2020Tala'ea El Gaish 20 January 202016th 21 January 2020Misr Lel Makkasa MidoSacked22 January 202015th 1 February 2020FC Masr Resigned5 February 202018th 9 February 2020Wadi Degla Mutual consent11 February 202017th (caretaker)11 February 2020Haras El Hodoud Signed by Al Masry20 February 202012th 22 February 2020 Sacked20 February 202010th 20 February 2020Wadi Degla End of caretaker spell21 February 202017th 21 February 2020Misr Lel Makkasa Mutual consent1 March 202016th 2 March 2020Aswan Resigned9 June 202013th 20 June 2020Tanta Sacked12 August 202017th 12 August 2020Ismaily 25 August 20209th (caretaker)25 June 2020 31 August 202015th 1 September 2020Tanta Resigned31 August 202018th 31 August 2020Ismaily 4 September 202010th (caretaker)4 September 2020Tanta 6 September 202018th 6 September 2020Smouha Mutual consent6 September 20206th 7 September 2020Ismaily End of caretaker spell10 September 202010th 10 September 2020 Sacked14 September 202015th (caretaker)14 September 2020Haras El Hodoud Mutual consent15 September 202016th 15 September 2020FC Masr Resigned16 September 202017th 18 September 2020Tanta 16 September 202018th 6 September 2020Zamalek 16 September 20202nd (caretaker)16 September 2020Misr Lel Makkasa 22 September 20208th 22 September 2020Zamalek (caretaker)End of caretaker spell30 September 20202nd 30 September 2020Al Ahly Resigned1 October 20201st 1 October 2020Haras El Hodoud 9 October 202016th 9 October 2020Misr Lel Makkasa 12 October 20207th 12 October 2020Al Ittihad 12 October 20208th 13 October 2020
Foreign players