The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has escalated its pressure on FIFA, issuing a statement on July 8 that declares it "cannot remain silent" regarding referee decisions in their 2-3 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup 2026 round of 16. This Instagram post, a day after the match in Atlanta, marks the EFA's first official communication since President Hany Abo Rida submitted a formal complaint to FIFA, adopting a firmer tone. The EFA emphasized the need for "the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and transparency" in officiating, particularly in a tournament of the World Cup's magnitude.

"The EFA cannot remain silent regarding the referee decisions in the match against Argentina, nor the improper use of the video assistant referee (VAR) system," the statement read. "Several critical situations have caused serious concern and raised many questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly impacted the match." The EFA also reiterated its demand for "equal treatment." "Egyptian football always respects the spirit of fair play, integrity, and the laws of the game," the statement noted. "Therefore, every team must compete under equal conditions and receive equal treatment."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino holds the Egyptian flag before the Switzerland versus Colombia match in the round of 16 of World Cup 2026 at Vancouver Stadium, British Columbia, Canada, on 7/7. *Photo: AP*

The statement concluded by affirming its commitment to protecting the national team's rights. The Federation asserted that every player representing Egypt and every fan supporting the team deserves fairness, respect, and the consistent application of the rules.

Referee Francois Letexier shows a red card to an Egyptian coaching staff member during the Argentina versus Egypt match in the round of 16 of World Cup 2026 at Atlanta Stadium, Georgia, United States, on 7/7. *Photo: AP*

The controversies surrounding the Argentina-Egypt match persist. In the 67th minute, Mostafa Ziko scored to give Egypt a 2-0 lead. However, the VAR determined Marwan Attia fouled Lisandro Martinez at the start of the play, prompting referee Francois Letexier to disallow the goal. Later, in stoppage time, Mohamed Salah fell in the penalty area after contact with an Argentina defender. The referee did not award a penalty, and the VAR did not request a review. Immediately after, Enzo Fernandez scored to seal Argentina's 3-2 victory.

The incident where Attia stepped on Lisandro Martinez's foot before Egypt scored against Argentina. *Photo: screenshot*

Referee experts have offered conflicting views on these two incidents. Former Premier League referee Graham Scott believed the decision to disallow Egypt's goal was incorrect. He argued that the contact between Attia and Lisandro Martinez was normal, occurred far from the goal, and did not meet the threshold for VAR intervention, calling it an "excessive" intervention. However, Scott deemed Egypt's late-match penalty claim unfounded, stating that the minor foot-to-foot contact between Salah and the Argentina player was insufficient to warrant a foul. He concluded the decision to continue the game was appropriate.

Coach Hossam Hassan reacted strongly after the match, arguing that Egypt suffered injustice. The 59-year-old coach questioned if FIFA favored Argentina and Lionel Messi to continue their championship pursuit, declaring he would "never watch the World Cup again because the tournament lacks justice." Forward Mostafa Ziko echoed this sentiment, stating his team faced unfair officiating from the start and questioned the tournament's transparency.

FIFA has not yet commented on the EFA's new statement. The EFA had previously requested the world football governing body investigate the French referee team and remove referee Francois Letexier and his assistants from officiating remaining World Cup 2026 matches. However, complaints against refereeing at the World Cup rarely change match results. FIFA almost always upholds the score and seldom publicly explains specific professional decisions after receiving protests from member federations. Thus, the outcome of the match between Argentina and Egypt is unlikely to be overturned.

Hoang An (according to BBC, EFA)