Egypt calls for the exclusion of referees after its controversy against
By OnzeActu · · 3 min read
After Egypt's elimination against Argentina in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, the Egyptian Federation formalized a complaint against the referees to denounce "double standards" and serious errors which affected the result.
At 1-0 in favor of Egypt in the second half, Mostafa Zico's goal was canceled by VAR. The latter was the victim of an uncalled foul on Marwan Attia, whose foot had been placed on that of Lisandro Martinez at the start of the action, a decision which led to the cancellation of the goal. Furthermore, a few moments before the late Argentinian goal which sealed the score at 3-2, the Egyptians believe that Mohamed Salah was the victim of a foul in the opposing area, penalized neither by the referee nor by the video.
In an official statement, the president of the EFA, Hany Abou Rida, denounced “serious errors and blatant double standards” on the part of the refereeing team, led by Frenchman François Letexier. He called for an in-depth investigation into the behavior of referees and VAR officials, going so far as to demand “the exclusion of the referee and his team from the rest of the competition”, also accusing “clear discrimination against the Egyptian team”.
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Egypt has never before managed to reach the round of 16 in the World Cup. The performance of Lionel Messi, author of an assist and a goal, also marked this meeting, perhaps the last for the Argentine captain in a World Cup.
For his part, Hossam Hassan, coach of Egypt, deplored “unfair” treatment towards his team, evoking a possible desire to preserve the title holder and the Argentine star in the competition. Mostafa Zico, for his part, bluntly denounced “an obvious injustice” and a “rigged” tournament.
These protests are reminiscent of those of France in 2022, which also saw one of its decisions contested during the World Cup. Despite the complaints, FIFA tends to quickly reject this type of dispute, considering that refereeing remains subject to an element of human error. The world federation has not yet commented on this Egyptian affair.
This controversy reignites debates on the use of video and the impartiality of referees in the premier competition, at a time when the 2026 World Cup continues with many challenges still to come.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Egypt file a complaint with FIFA?
Egypt has filed a complaint with FIFA to request the exclusion of the referees who officiated in its match against Argentina, due to controversial refereeing decisions which would have cost the team qualification.
What incident led to the cancellation of Mostafa Zico's goal?
Mostafa Zico's goal was canceled by VAR due to an uncalled foul on Marwan Attia, whose foot had been placed on that of Lisandro Martinez at the start of the action.
What was the final score of the match between Egypt and Argentina?
The final score of the match between Egypt and Argentina was 3-2 in favor of Argentina.
Who is the president of the Egyptian Football Federation?
The president of the Egyptian Football Federation (EFA) is Hany Abou Rida.
Have Egypt already reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup?
No, Egypt has never managed to reach the round of 16 in the World Cup.
Read more on our latest coverage and stay tuned for updates on what happens next.