Egypt file complaint against referee after controversial World Cup exit

The Egyptian Football Federation has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, seeking the removal of the officiating team from the World Cup following their team's controversial 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the round of 16. Federation President Hany Aburida demanded an investigation into French referee Francois Letexier and his crew, citing "serious refereeing mistakes and double standards" that he believes unfairly cost Egypt the match.

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Hany Aburida, President of the Egyptian Football Federation, filed a complaint with FIFA, demanding an investigation into the French referee Francois Letexier… after the serious refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards, which caused the Egypt team to lose the match and leave the World Cup.

Key incidents cited include a Mostafa Ziko goal disallowed after VAR intervened for an earlier foul, and a penalty claim in the build-up to Argentina's winning goal, which Egypt felt should have been awarded. The federation's statement expressed frustration that the refereeing team allegedly insisted on not reviewing footage that could have favored the Egyptian national team, including what they consider a "correct goal" and a "penalty."

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Aburida demanded the investigation of the entire team of referees, including the video technology referees, because of the blatant errors and insisting on not reviewing some of the footage that we believe are in favour of the Egyptian national team, and we see in it the Pharaohs’ right to a correct goal and a penalty.

Aburida's complaint specifically called for the exclusion of the referee and the entire crew from the tournament, pending an investigation that proves "discrimination against the Egyptian national team." These sentiments were echoed by Egypt's head coach, Hossam Hassan, who immediately after the match accused the officials of cheating and injustice.

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It added that the president had also “demanded the exclusion of the referee and the entire crew from the World Cup after investigating these mistakes and proving the crime of discrimination against the Egyptian national team”.

Hassan told journalists, "We haven't seen respect or fair play." He further suggested to BeIN that external factors might have influenced the outcome, possibly to keep the "world champions" and Lionel Messi in the competition. The coach implied that the Egyptian national team received a lack of respect and fair play throughout the match.

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I do not want to put it nicely and talk about hard luck. We have been cheated unfairly today, we have suffered injustice.