Egypt Calls for Referee Removal After Argentina Loss
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has formally asked FIFA to remove the match officials who oversaw Egypt’s 3‑2 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup last‑16 stage. The EFA alleges that a series of refereeing errors denied Egypt a place in the quarter‑finals for the first time in its history.
Key Controversial Moments in the Match
Egypt initially took the lead when Mostafa Zico scored, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review determined that midfielder Marwan Attia had stepped on Lisandro Martinez’s foot during the build‑up.
Later, as the match entered stoppage time, Egypt appealed for a penalty after Mohamed Salah appeared to be fouled inside the box. The referee waved play on, and Argentina quickly launched the attack that produced the winning goal, completing a 3‑2 comeback.
In a strongly worded statement, EFA president Hany Abou Rida said the refereeing team, led by French official Francois Letexier, committed “serious mistakes” and applied “double standards.” The federation demanded an investigation into both the on‑field referees and the VAR team, accusing them of blatant errors and refusing to review crucial footage.
The EFA went further, calling for the exclusion of the referee and his entire crew from the remainder of the tournament and alleging discrimination against the Egyptian national team. As of the time of writing, FIFA had not issued a public response to the complaint.
Argentina ultimately advanced to a quarter‑final clash with Switzerland, thanks to a late equaliser and winner from captain Lionel Messi.
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