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KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – Egypt’s national football team has filed an official complaint over the refereeing performance during its 2026 World Cup round-of-16 match against Argentina. The complaint came after Egypt suffered a 3-2 defeat at Seattle Stadium on Tuesday, July 8, in a match marked by several controversial incidents.
The Egyptian Football Association, or EFA, reportedly submitted the complaint to FIFA after the game, with its main concerns directed at the referee’s decisions and the use of VAR. Egypt argued that several key incidents raised serious questions about consistency and fairness in decisions that directly affected the flow of the match.
The match between Argentina and Egypt was filled with heated moments, including a goal by Zico that was disallowed by VAR after a foul was judged to have been committed against Lisandro Martinez. Another major talking point came when Argentina’s winning goal was allowed to stand despite Mohamed Salah being brought down during the build-up.
Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan was critical of the officiating after the match, accusing Argentina of receiving favourable decisions. Winger Mostafa Ziko also expressed frustration, claiming that several decisions made by referee Francois Letexier harmed Egypt’s chances of progressing further in the tournament.
Ziko apologised to Egyptian supporters after the defeat, saying the team had wanted to make the nation proud but felt the outcome was affected by refereeing decisions. His remarks added to the growing frustration from the Egyptian camp following their elimination from the World Cup.
In its statement, the EFA said several local and international football experts had highlighted controversial and influential refereeing incidents during the match. The association’s complaint places further pressure on FIFA to review the officiating standards and VAR implementation in high-stakes knockout matches.
Argentina’s victory secured their place in the next stage of the tournament, while Egypt’s campaign ended in disappointment despite a strong performance against one of the competition favourites. The controversy surrounding the match is likely to remain a major talking point as the knockout phase continues.
