Cairo derby off after TV dispute

Zamalek may welcome the decision more than their Cairo neighbours

The Cairo derby - the biggest club clash in the African calendar - has been postponed after a row over television rights.

Bitter rivals Al Ahly and Zamalek were due to meet at the Cairo International Stadium on Saturday.

However, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has decided to call it off after Ahly insisted they held the TV rights to the match.

The EFA signed a new TV deal at the beginning of the season, which has put them in direct conflict with the newly crowned African champions.

Ahly claim they have a right to market their own home matches, but the Egyptian FA say they own the exclusive rights to Saturday's clash.

I am very angry with this decision. It has put a lot of pressure on my players Al Ahly coach Manuel Jose

The match is now expected to be rescheduled for January, which will add to an already congested fixture list for Ahly, who have seen four more domestic games moved to early 2009 due to their Champions League run.

"I am very angry with this decision," Ahly coach Manuel Jose said.

"It has put a lot of pressure on my players with such a tight schedule of games."

The decision, however, may be welcomed by their Cairo neighbours, who have suffered from a poor run of form of late and would have been without key striker Junior Agogo, who is serving a three-match ban.