Egyptian FA has said it cannot remain silent about refereeing decisions in their 3-2 loss against defending champions Argentina in the round of 16 at the Atlanta Stadium, on Tuesday. Egypt had one foot in the quarterfinal’s door but the reigning champions were able to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat.
Hossam Hassan’s team had a 2-0 lead but Argentina scored thrice in the matter of 13 minutes to turn the tide in their favour. Enzo Fernández scored the winner in the second minute of stoppage-time after Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi equalised for La Albiceleste.
Referee François Letexier’s decisions were questioned worldwide after an insane match came to a close. Egypt had one goal disallowed on VAR after Mostafa Ziko found the back in the net in the 58th minute.
Subsequently, Egypt was left fuming when the referee didn’t check on an apparent foul by Alexis Mac Allister in the immediate buildup to Fernández’s match-winning goal.
In a statement, the Egyptian FA (EFA) said: “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.
“A number of football experts and specialist analysts, both locally and internationally, have highlighted controversial and influential refereeing incidents during the match,” the statement read.
“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.
“Egyptian football has always respected the principles of fair play, sporting integrity, and respect for the game. 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,” the statement went on to say.
“Defending the rights and interests of the Egyptian national team is not a matter that can be ignored, minimized, or treated as secondary. It is a responsibility that we carry with full conviction and determination.
“Every player who wears the Egyptian shirt, and every supporter who stands behind the team, deserves fairness, respect, and equal application of the laws of the game,” the statement ended.
