Egypt players accuse French referee of unfair decisions after Argentina World Cup defeat

Egyptian players have voiced strong accusations against French referee François Letixier, alleging his officiating directly led to their 3-2 loss against Argentina and subsequent elimination from the World Cup.

The Pharaohs were knocked out in the round of 16 after a contentious match. Key moments cited by the players include the disallowance of Mostafa Zico's goal in the 58th minute and what they perceived as missed penalty calls. Players also pointed to what they described as excessive carding, seemingly directed at only one team.

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The referee was neither impartial nor fair. He clearly wronged us and wasted the efforts of an entire country. From the very first minute, he instilled a negative feeling in the players.

A visibly upset Mostafa Zico told reporters, "The referee was neither impartial nor fair. He clearly wronged us and wasted the efforts of an entire country. From the very first minute, he instilled a negative feeling in the players." He went further, stating, "May God be my witness. This tournament is rigged."

Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan appeared to echo these sentiments, raising FIFA's "No to Racism" badge. This gesture suggested a belief that the referee's decisions were discriminatory, drawing a parallel between the perceived unfairness and racial bias. Social media commentary from the Arab public largely supported the view that the Egyptian team faced significant injustice during the match.

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May God be my witness. This tournament is rigged.