The Egyptian Football Association has released a strongly worded statement questioning the "fairness" of the national team's 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup last-16 match on Tuesday. The statement specifically criticized the refereeing decisions made by French official François Letexier and the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
Match incidents spark outrage
Egypt had taken an early lead through Yasser Ibrahim and thought they had doubled their advantage when Mostafa Ziko scored after a flowing move. However, the goal was disallowed following a VAR review, with Letexier ruling that Marwan Attia had committed a foul in the buildup. Ziko did make it 2-0 on 67 minutes, but Argentina responded through Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi to level the score.
In injury time, Egypt were incensed when Letexier declined to award a penalty for Julián Alvarez's challenge on Mohamed Salah. Moments later, Enzo Fernández scored the winner for Argentina, sealing a dramatic comeback.
Egyptian FA demands accountability
The Egyptian FA's statement read: "The Egyptian Football Association cannot remain silent regarding the refereeing decisions witnessed during the match against Argentina as well as the failure to make appropriate use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. 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 statement added: "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 World Cup."
Manager and FA back players
Egypt manager Hossam Hassan had earlier expressed his frustration, saying his side "suffered injustice" and "were wronged." He stated: "What happened was unfair. Egypt deserved to qualify. We were the better team." The FA echoed his sentiments, emphasizing that "Egyptian football has always respected the principles of fair play, sporting integrity, and respect for the game."
The association continued: "These same principles require that all teams compete on equal terms and receive equal treatment. What occurred during the match has understandably generated widespread frustration among our players, staff, and supporters, who expected the highest standards of officiating on football's biggest stage."
Historic tournament despite defeat
Despite the controversial exit, Egypt's campaign in the United States was historic. They recorded their first World Cup win, first progression from the group stage, and first knockout victory, marking a significant achievement for African football. Argentina, meanwhile, advance to the quarter-finals where they will face Switzerland, who edged past Colombia on penalties.
