During a World Cup round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta on July 7, 2026, Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan found himself in a heated exchange with French referee Francois Letexier. Following Egypt’s 3-2 defeat, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) voiced strong dissatisfaction with what they perceived as biased officiating.
The EFA released a statement condemning the referee’s decisions, describing them as unfair and detrimental to the Egyptian national team’s performance. The association emphasized its obligation to protect the team’s rights and interests.
FIFA’s chief of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, countered these claims, asserting the importance of not making unfounded allegations. He warned against questioning FIFA officials’ integrity, as it could lead to unnecessary and harmful reactions, including threats to referees and their families.
Key to Egypt’s frustration was the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Egypt believed the system was applied incorrectly, costing them a crucial goal when Marwan Attia’s effort was disallowed due to a VAR review that identified a foul on Argentina’s Lisandro Martínez.
Collina defended the decision-making process, asserting that fouls impacting a goal’s buildup could trigger a VAR intervention. He clarified that if a referee misses a foul, VAR can step in regardless of how obvious the foul seems.
Despite Egypt’s Mostafa Ziko scoring to secure a 2-0 lead, Argentina’s comeback began with Lionel Messi assisting Cristian Romero, followed by two more goals, shifting the match in Argentina’s favor.
In a tense finale, Egypt’s goalkeeping coach Saafan Elsaghir received a red card, and several Egyptian players were shown yellow cards. Hassan expressed his belief that the established soccer system favored Argentina and Messi.
The EFA’s statement highlighted support from experts and analysts who backed Egypt’s stance, underscoring the need for fairness and integrity in high-stakes matches. The association stressed that the Egyptian team and its supporters deserve fairness, respect, and consistent application of the game’s laws.