Egypt is calling on FIFA to conduct an investigation into the officiating of its World Cup match against Argentina, following a contentious elimination from the tournament.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has specifically requested the removal of French referee Francois Letexier, who oversaw the match where Egypt faced Argentina.
Argentina is set to compete against Switzerland in the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Sunday morning (AEST).
After Egypt’s coach, Hossam Hassan, expressed numerous grievances immediately following the 3-2 round of 16 loss to Argentina, the EFA responded with two statements the following day that elaborated on their concerns regarding the officiating.
The EFA’s second statement indicated that president Hany Abou Rida had formally lodged a complaint with FIFA, urging an inquiry into Letexier’s performance due to “serious mistakes made by the officiating team and the apparent double standards that led to Egypt’s defeat and exit from the World Cup.”
Alongside the request for an investigation, Egypt is seeking the removal of Letexier and his officiating crew from the remainder of the tournament.
At one point in the match, Egypt held a 2-0 lead late in the second half, but Argentina surged back to score three goals within a span of just 13 minutes, securing their place in the quarterfinals.
Egypt’s potential third goal was disallowed earlier in the match when a VAR review determined that a foul had occurred against an Argentine player just before the goal was scored.
The EFA’s first statement expressed that it could not remain silent regarding the refereeing decisions made during the match against Argentina, particularly criticizing the inadequate application of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
“Several pivotal incidents raised significant concerns and left critical questions about the consistency and fairness of the decisions that directly affected the outcome of the match,” the statement noted.
It further emphasized that various football analysts and experts, both nationally and internationally, have pointed out the controversial officiating during the game, highlighting the need for upholding the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and transparency in officiating, especially in a prestigious event like the FIFA World Cup 2026.
In a more direct critique, Hassan stated after the match, “There was neither respect nor fair play today. Argentina’s victory is entirely undeserved.”
Argentina will face Switzerland in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Kansas City.
