Egypt's national football team faced a shocking 3-2 defeat against Argentina in the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup, with coach Hossam Hassan alleging that the match was rigged. The incident occurred on Tuesday, after Egypt led 2-0 before Argentina's comeback secured their place in the quarterfinals.
Contentious Refereeing Decisions Fuel Outrage
Following the match, Hassan expressed his frustration on BeIN Sports, stating, "This match was rigged, and the whole world saw it." The Egyptians took a commanding lead with goals from Yasser Ibrahim in the 15th minute and Mostafa Ziko in the 67th minute. However, Argentina responded with goals from Cristian Romero (79), Lionel Messi (83), and Enzo Fernandez (90+2).
The Egyptian team accused referee Francois Letexier of unfair officiating, claiming he denied them a historic victory. Ziko's 58th-minute goal was disallowed by the video assistant referee (VAR), a decision Hassan criticized as unjustified. "The referee was unfair and destroyed the efforts of an entire nation," Ziko stated.
VAR Controversy and Neglected Penalty Claims
Another major point of contention was a potential penalty that went unchecked by VAR. Hassan claimed a foul had been committed against Hamdy Fathy inside the Argentine penalty area shortly before Argentina scored their winning goal. Neutral observers also shared the view that Fathy was unfairly treated when Alexis Mac Allister pulled his jersey, denying him a chance to score.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) lodged an official complaint with FIFA, with Hany Abo Rida, EFA President, demanding an investigation into the officiating. Abo Rida criticized Letexier for applying a "double standard" that led to Egypt's elimination.
Expert Opinions on Refereeing Decisions
Former Bundesliga referee Patrick Ittrich commented on the situation, stating, "You can see the jersey being pulled. For me, that's a penalty." He highlighted a general imbalance in officiating, noting that all contentious decisions seemed to favor Argentina. Lutz Wagner, another former referee, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Argentina could not have complained had the foul been called.
Hassan also accused the Argentine team of pressuring the referee during the match. He lamented the lack of respect shown toward his team, stating, "We deserved the win, but we were shown no respect and no fair play." The coach's remarks reflect a broader dissatisfaction with FIFA's credibility, particularly after recent controversies.
- Final Score: Egypt 2 - 3 Argentina
- Goals: Yasser Ibrahim (15'), Mostafa Ziko (67') for Egypt; Cristian Romero (79'), Lionel Messi (83'), Enzo Fernandez (90+2) for Argentina
- Disallowed Goal: Mostafa Ziko (58') - VAR decision
- Controversial Non-Penalty: Hamdy Fathy's foul not reviewed
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by DW English. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
