Egypt FA Criticizes Refereeing in World Cup Defeat to Argentina

The Egyptian Football Association has criticised the refereeing decisions in Egypt’s dramatic 3-2 World Cup round-of-16 defeat by Argentina, saying it would not remain silent over what it described as the improper use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

The EFA said on Wednesday that several decisions during the match had directly affected the outcome.

Egypt appeared on course for one of the biggest upsets of the tournament when they led defending champions Argentina 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining on Tuesday, only to concede three late goals and crash out.

“Several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game,” the federation said in a statement posted on social media.

“A number of football experts and specialist analysts, both locally and internationally, have highlighted controversial and influential refereeing incidents during the match.

“This underlines the importance of maintaining the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and transparency in match officiating, particularly in a competition of the stature and significance of the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

According to several media reports, EFA President Hany Abo Rida has submitted an official complaint against French referee Francois Letexier and his assistants.

FIFA has not responded to Al Jazeera’s request for a comment on Egypt’s reported complaint.

Much of the controversy centred on a goal by Egypt’s Mostafa Zico in the 62nd minute that would have doubled his side’s lead. The goal was disallowed after a VAR review identified a foul by an Egyptian player in the build-up.

Egypt’s frustration deepened late in the match when their appeals for a penalty after Hamdy Fathy went down under a challenge were waved away, before Argentina went upfield and scored the winner in the 92nd minute.

A leading sport industry expert has questioned why VAR officials had raised the issue if the on-field officials did not call a foul when Egypt’s Marwan Attia lightly tugged the shirt and stepped on the foot of Lisandro Martinez.

“A logical solution to the VAR issue would be for fans and viewers to listen to an assessment of the alleged offence, hear the various arguments, and have a clear insight into the basis for a decision,” Simon Chadwick, professor of Afro-Eurasian sport at the Emlyon Business School in Shanghai, told Al Jazeera.

Chadwick admitted that, although Egyptian players should not have become overwhelmed with emotion, “a sense of injustice was induced by the VAR decision”.

“This technology was supposed to minimise doubt and bring consistency. Instead, its use during this match had significant cognitive and behavioural effects,” he said.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan and captain Mohamed Salah expressed their disappointment after the match, while several former players and television pundits also questioned the officiating.

“Surely, this is not within VAR’s [realm] to review this,” former England goalkeeper Rob Green said on Fox’s broadcast of the match, referring to the foul that led to Zico’s goal being quashed.

“It’s a full length of the pitch away.”

Former England captain Alan Shearer also criticised the decision-making process.

“Either both are fouls, or neither is. But they told us they won’t re-referee,” the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer wrote on social media.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright pointed to another incident involving Salah.

“If you’re going to pull it back for Argentina on the edge of the box to disallow a goal, you have to pull it back for this one with Mo Salah. He’s been caught. Whatever we say, it might be minimal, he’s been caught, and then they go up the other end,” Wright said on ITV.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also questioned the consistency of VAR’s application.

“If that was in the Premier League, La Liga or Serie A, it would have been a goal even after VAR review,” he said.