​On Wednesday, the Egyptian Football Association voiced strong criticism of refereeing decisions from Egypt’s dramatic 3-2 World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Argentina, stating it would not stay silent about what it described as the improper use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. The EFA’s remarks followed what had seemed like a potential shock victory for Egypt, who led defending champions Argentina 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining before three late goals shattered their upset bid.
The federation emphasized that several calls during the match directly influenced the outcome, citing a series of controversial decisions that they said raised serious concerns about consistency and fairness. In a statement shared on social media, the EFA noted that a number of football experts and specialist analysts, both locally and internationally, had highlighted contentious and influential refereeing moments throughout the game. This, the federation argued, underscores the need for the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and transparency in match officiating—especially in a competition of FIFA World Cup’s magnitude and significance, ahead of the 2026 tournament.
Much of the scrutiny focused on a key moment when Mostafa Zico’s 62nd-minute goal, which would have extended Egypt’s lead, was disallowed after a VAR review identified a foul by an Egyptian player during the buildup. Egypt’s frustration intensified late on when their appeals for a penalty after Hamdy Fathy was challenged were denied, allowing Argentina to push forward and secure the decisive winner in the 92nd minute.
Reaction to the officiating was swift and widespread among players, coaches, and pundits. Coach Hossam Hassan and captain Mohamed Salah expressed disappointment after the match, with several former players and television commentators questioning the refereeing. Former England goalkeeper Rob Green, speaking on Fox’s broadcast, criticized the logic of the VAR decision regarding the disallowed goal, suggesting that the foul leading to the call should have been within VAR’s remit. “Surely, this is not within VAR’s realm to review this,” Green commented, highlighting the controversy surrounding the decision. He added that the ball was “a full length of the pitch away,” hinting at a perceived inconsistency in how VAR reviews were applied.
Similarly, former England captain Alan Shearer weighed in on social media, questioning the decision-making process: “Either both are fouls or neither is. But they told us they won’t re-referee.” He referred to the need for consistency in officiating, arguing that if a foul near the edge of the box warranted disallowing a goal, then similar scrutiny should have been applied in the other incident involving Salah. Ian Wright, the former Arsenal striker, underscored the call for parity, suggesting that if a ruling was used to negate an Egyptian goal, the same standard should have been applied in Salah’s case as well.
As discussions about VAR and refereeing continue, the EFA’s position adds to a broader global debate about the implementation and consistency of video-assisted officiating in major tournaments. The federation’s statement signals its intent to pursue a formal discourse on the matter, calling for greater clarity and uniform standards to ensure fair outcomes in matches of such high stakes. It remains to be seen how FIFA, refereeing bodies, and national associations will respond to the concerns raised by Egypt and other observers, and whether any adjustments to VAR protocols or refereeing guidelines will be forthcoming ahead of future World Cup rounds and other major competitions.