Egypt Asks FIFA to Ban Referee After World Cup Loss to Argentina

The Egyptian Football Federation has formally requested FIFA to remove French referee François Letexier from officiating any further matches in the 2026 World Cup. This demand follows Egypt's 3-2 defeat against Argentina in a Round of 16 match, which the federation deems was heavily influenced by "flagrant refereeing errors" and the application of "double standards."

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flagrant refereeing errors

In a statement issued by its president, Hany About Rida, the federation urged FIFA to investigate Letexier and his officiating team, including VAR officials. They argue that these errors led to the Egyptian national team's loss and that the refereeing demonstrated discrimination against Egypt. The federation specifically requested that the central referee, his assistants, and the VAR officials be barred from future matches pending a thorough investigation.

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double standards

Key points of contention include the referee's "stubborn refusal" to review certain actions that, according to the Egyptian football leadership, should have resulted in a valid goal and a penalty for Egypt. Notably, François Letexier disallowed an Egyptian goal early in the second half after a VAR review flagged a foul in the build-up. Furthermore, Egypt believes it was wrongly denied a penalty in stoppage time for a shirt pull on Hamdy Fathy, and also contests a contact incident between Argentina's Julián Álvarez and Egypt's Mohamed Salah in the penalty area just before Argentina scored their third goal.

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stubborn refusal

Following the match, Egypt's coach, Hossam Hassan, expressed his disappointment, stating the refereeing was "neither fair nor equitable." He suggested that pressure might have been exerted by the Argentine team on the referee, leading to the outcome. The federation's request highlights a significant post-match dispute over officiating, impacting the tournament's integrity.

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neither fair nor equitable