​Pierluigi Collina, the FIFA referee chief, has publicly defended French official François Letexier amid harsh criticisms from Egypt and reiterated support for referees across the World Cup. In a recent interview featured on the FIFA website, Collina stated that unfounded allegations have no place in football and asserted that no one should question the integrity of FIFA World Cup match officials. He emphasized that when such accusations arise, they can provoke threats against referees and their families, which he described as entirely unacceptable.
Collina reiterated that FIFA refereeing cannot be influenced by any person, not even by the FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who he said has consistently demonstrated full support for FIFA’s refereeing team while entrusting them to work with complete independence. He stressed that match officials strive to make honest decisions, and, like players and coaches, they aim to perform to the best of their abilities.
The World Cup has witnessed several controversial refereeing decisions, including Egypt’s Football Association lodging a formal complaint against Letexier and his team after the 3-2 Round of 16 defeat to Argentina. Egypt argued for Letexier’s exclusion from the tournament, pointing to a disallowed goal by Mostafa Ziko following a foul in the buildup and two incidents prior to Argentina’s late winner in which no Egyptian penalty was awarded. The Egyptian side contended that Hamdi Fathi had been fouled and Mohamed Salah had gone down inside the penalty area.
Collina addressed specific on-field events during the match, noting what he described as “normal football contact” between Salah and Julián Álvarez, after Álvarez initially touched the ball. He also referenced Marwan Attia’s challenge, which Collina described as Attia clearly treading on the foot of Lisandro Martínez before Egypt’s goal. Collina explained the VAR process: after a goal is scored, the attacking possession phase (APP) is reviewed by the VAR. If a foul is identified in the buildup and is determined to have affected the outcome of the goal, the VAR will recommend an on-field review. He added that there is no fixed limit on either the distance from goal or the time elapsed between the incident and the goal when assessing potential fouls.
Collina underscored the fundamental principle that a foul is a foul, regardless of whether it appears to be obvious, and that the absence of a call on the field does not preclude VAR intervention if the incident warrants it. He argued that the integrity of refereeing hinges on adherence to rules, consistent application, and independence from external pressures, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interests of the sport.
In his broader message, Collina called for patience and respect in the evaluation of referees’ performances during the tournament. He asserted that Letexier and his team, like all referees, deserve support and recognition for their attempts to uphold fair play under challenging conditions. The defense of Letexier comes as part of Collina’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the credibility of officiating at the highest levels of football, reaffirming that referees must be trusted to make judicious decisions based on the laws of the game, supported by the VAR system when applicable.