​ATLANTA (AP) — The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said on Wednesday that it cannot remain silent in the face of what it views as unfair and biased officiating in Egypt’s 3-2 Round of 16 loss to Argentina on Tuesday. Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan and several players voiced sharp criticisms of the officiating after a stunning and historic comeback by Argentina, which struck three unanswered goals within a 13-minute span.
Defending the rights and interests of the Egyptian national team, the EFA stated, is not a matter to be ignored, minimized, or treated as secondary. It is a responsibility it carries with full conviction and determination. The federation pointed to a sequence in which Egypt appeared to have scored a second goal in the 58th minute only to have VAR review overturn the decision, determining that Marwan Attia fouled Argentina defender Lisandro Martínez before the goal. In its statement, the EFA argued that the referee did not apply the VAR system properly, contributing to what they characterized as the decisive loss.
The EFA’s remarks highlighted that several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the match. The report noted that Mostafa Ziko added what looked like a crucial second goal nine minutes later, temporarily giving Egypt a 2-0 lead, before momentum shifted decisively to Argentina when Lionel Messi helped Cristian Romero score in the 79th minute — the first of three consecutive goals that altered the game’s trajectory.
Hassan raised his arms in an “X” formation to signal alleged racial abuse immediately after Argentina’s stoppage-time winner. Following the match, Hassan claimed his team had been a victim of a soccer establishment that favored Messi and Argentina. In the closing moments, Egypt’s goalkeeping coach Saafan Elsaghir was shown a red card, and several Egyptian players received yellow cards as officials drew the game to a chaotic finish. The EFA’s statement asserted that a number of experts and analysts have defended Egypt, emphasizing the importance of integrity, fairness, and transparency in officiating on soccer’s biggest stage.
The federation underscored the frustration shared by Egypt’s players, staff, and supporters. It stated that every player who wears the Egyptian shirt and every fan who backs the team deserves fairness, respect, and the equal application of the laws of the game. The EFA’s message reflects a wider sense of grievance within Egyptian football, with officials and supporters demanding accountability and a clearer standard of officiating in major international tournaments.
As Egypt’s World Cup journey concluded amid controversy, the EFA’s assertion signals potential ongoing debates about refereeing standards and the influence of officiating on match outcomes in the sport’s most prominent stage. The federation’s commitment to defending its team’s rights suggests it may pursue further avenues to address the concerns raised by the match’s decision-making and to advocate for improvements in how high-stakes games are officiated.
For those seeking broader context, AP’s World Cup coverage continues to explore the tournament’s dramatic moments, tactical analyses, and the organizational challenges that accompany football’s global spectacle.