The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has formally challenged several refereeing decisions following Egypt's dramatic 3-2 defeat to defending champions Argentina in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, claiming controversial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) interventions played a decisive role in ending the nation's memorable campaign.
Match Overview and Stunning Comeback
Egypt appeared destined for one of the tournament's biggest upsets after establishing a 2-0 lead before Argentina produced a remarkable late comeback with three goals in the final 11 minutes to secure a quarter-final berth. The match, officiated by French referee François Letexier, saw Argentina's Lionel Messi score twice and set up the winner, while Egypt's Mohamed Salah had given his side a first-half advantage.
EFA's Formal Complaint
In a strongly worded statement, the EFA expressed serious concerns over the consistency and application of VAR, insisting that several key decisions directly influenced the outcome of the contest. The federation's strongest objection centered on the 62nd-minute disallowance of Mostafa Zico's goal following a lengthy VAR review that identified a foul during the build-up. Egyptian officials also questioned the decision not to award a late penalty after Hamdy Fathy went down inside the area moments before Argentina launched the counterattack that produced Enzo Fernandez's dramatic stoppage-time winner.
Reactions from Players and Analysts
Head coach Hossam Hassan and captain Mohamed Salah echoed the federation's frustration after the match, while several former players and international television analysts also questioned the officiating. Former England goalkeeper Rob Green, former England captain Alan Shearer, ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright, and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher all criticized the consistency of the VAR decisions during television coverage and on social media.
Official Complaint Submitted to FIFA
According to multiple reports, EFA President Hany Abo Rida has submitted an official complaint against referee François Letexier and his officiating team. FIFA had not issued an official response at the time of writing.
