​The Egyptian Football Association is seeking redress after feeling appalled by the referee performance in Tuesday’s dramatic 3-2 World Cup last-16 defeat to Argentina. The world champions clawed back from a 2-0 deficit after the 79th minute to secure victory, yet Egypt believes they should have been 3-0 up when a goal from Zico was ruled out by VAR for a minor foul. The Pharaohs also contend they had a strong penalty claim just before Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner.
Association president Hany Abo Rida told reporters at the team hotel that he has filed a formal complaint with FIFA against French referee François Letexier and his assistants, and he has called for the refereeing team to be excluded from remaining tournament matches. Egypt is urging an official investigation into the officiating crew.
Egypt’s coach, Hossam Hassan, had already voiced sharp criticisms immediately after the final whistle. “We have been treated unfairly and it has been an injustice,” he said. “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Lionel Messi to stay in the running.” Hassan also announced a personal World Cup boycott upon his return to Cairo. “I promise you: as soon as I’m back, I will no longer follow matches at this World Cup,” he stated. “That is my inner struggle, my inner protest, my own way of raising my voice and fighting back.”
Former Bundesliga referee Patrick Ittrich agreed that Egypt should have been awarded a late penalty at 2-2 when Mohamed Salah was challenged by Alexis Mac Allister. “For me, and I’m relatively clear about this, it’s actually a penalty. He does nothing other than pull the shirt. The impulse is there to stop the player from possibly getting to the second ball,” Ittrich told MagentaTV. VAR did not intervene in that moment.
The dispute has added another layer of controversy to a tournament already filled with contentious decisions, as Egypt seeks accountability and a formal reassessment of the officiating that influenced one of the competition’s most dramatic knockout clashes. The request for an investigation underscores the growing demand from teams around the world for greater transparency and consistency in refereeing standards at the World Cup.