Egypt protests World Cup refereeing after Argentina loss

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has declared it "cannot remain silent" following what it described as unfair and biased officiating during Egypt's 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup round of 16. The association expressed strong dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions that they believe significantly impacted the match's result.

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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.

Coach Hossam Hassan and several Egyptian players voiced their disbelief after Argentina mounted a comeback, scoring three unanswered goals in 13 minutes. The EFA issued a statement asserting that defending the national team's rights is a non-negotiable responsibility. "It is a responsibility that we carry with full conviction and determination," the statement read.

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unfounded allegations have no place in our sport. Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right.

FIFA's chief of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, responded by stating that while discussions about decisions are welcome, "unfounded allegations have no place in our sport." He defended the integrity of World Cup match officials, warning that baseless accusations can lead to threats against them and their families. Collina specifically addressed the controversial VAR decision that disallowed Egypt's second goal in the 58th minute. The review determined that Marwan Attia had fouled Argentina's Lisandro Martínez during the build-up.

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If a foul is identified in the build-up and is deemed to have had an impact on the goal, the VAR will recommend an on-field review. There is no defined limit regarding either the distance from goal or the amount of time between the incident and the goal.

Collina explained that VAR intervenes if a foul is identified in the build-up and deemed to have impacted the goal, regardless of the distance or time elapsed. He confirmed that Attia "clearly treads on the foot of Argentina No. 6 Lisandro Martínez," asserting, "We believe that a foul is a foul." The EFA, however, maintained that the referee failed to utilize the VAR system appropriately, contributing to Egypt's loss. The association highlighted "several key incidents" that raised serious concerns about the consistency and fairness of the decisions, which they claim directly influenced the game's course.

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We believe that a foul is a foul. Regardless of whether the foul appears ‘obvious,’ if the referee did not see it on the field of play, the VAR can intervene.