Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating following his team's 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup round of 16 on July 8, 2026. Hassan claimed that the referee's decisions were 'unfair' and suggested that the tournament was 'directed towards Argentina,' the reigning champions.
Controversial Moments in the Match
The match saw several controversial moments, including two disallowed penalty claims from Egypt. Hassan stated that a challenge by Julian Alvarez on Mohamed Salah inside the penalty area went unchecked by VAR. Instead, the counter-attack led to Enzo Fernandez's late header that clinched Argentina's victory in the 92nd minute.
Hassan remarked, "Life is unfair. The world is unfair. Okay, but why isn't there any fairness in sports?" He further criticized the lack of respect and fair play, asserting, "The cup is directed towards Argentina." In his view, the officiating undermined the efforts of the Egyptian team.
Egypt's Disallowed Goals and VAR Concerns
Egypt had a goal ruled out earlier in the match due to a VAR check that deemed Lisandro Martinez had been fouled in the buildup. Hassan noted that Alexis Mac Allister also pulled down Hamdi Fathy in the area without any intervention from the video assistant referee.
- Key incidents during the match:
- Penalty claims for Egypt waved off
- Disallowed goal for Egypt after VAR review
- Pressure on the referee before the match
Hassan's Strong Criticism of Refereeing
After the match, Hassan stated, "Argentina's victory is entirely undeserved. I promise you, once I return today, I will not watch football in this World Cup at all, because there is no justice in it." He emphasized that the officiating was evident to all and that external factors influenced the outcome.
The Egyptian FA echoed Hassan's sentiments, expressing concerns about the consistency and fairness of officiating decisions. In a statement, they said, "The Egyptian Football Association cannot remain silent regarding the refereeing decisions witnessed during the match against Argentina as well as the failure to make appropriate use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system."
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Sky Sports Football. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
