Egypt files official complaint over VAR decisions in World Cup loss to Argentina and favouring Messi

Jul 7, 2026

The Egyptian Football Association has filed an official complaint with FIFA following Egypt's dramatic 3-2 round-of-16 World Cup loss to Argentina on July 7, 2026. Egypt led 2-0 before conceding three late goals, but the match was marred by controversial refereeing decisions. Mostafa Zico had a crucial goal disallowed after a VAR review, and Egypt was denied two late penalty appeals. EFA President Hany Abo Rida has demanded an investigation and the exclusion of referee François Letexier's officiating team.

VAR World Cup decisions

▪Egyptian Football Association President Hany Abo Rida accused referee François Letexier of serious errors and demanded the exclusion of the entire officiating team from the World Cup.
▪The Egyptian Football Association filed an official complaint with FIFA against French referee François Letexier and his assistants over refereeing decisions during the match against Argentina.
▪Egypt's national football team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after a 3-2 round-of-16 defeat to Argentina on July 7, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Egypt disallowed goal Argentina

▪Video assistant referee Jerome Brisard recommended the on-field review that led referee François Letexier to disallow Mostafa Zico's goal.
▪Egypt's Mostafa Zico had a goal disallowed in the 58th minute following a video assistant referee review that identified a buildup foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martínez.

Egypt penalty appeals Argentina

▪Egypt appealed for a penalty after Alexis Mac Allister pulled Hamdy Fathy's jersey in the penalty area, but the incident was checked and cleared by the video assistant referee.
▪Egypt appealed for a penalty when Mohamed Salah went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Julián Álvarez, which the video assistant referee checked and cleared.

France penalty award Paraguay

▪France was awarded a penalty in the 65th minute of their match against Paraguay on July 4, 2026, after a video assistant referee review of Diego Gómez's challenge on Désiré Doué.
▪Referee Igiz Tantashev awarded the penalty to France after video assistant referee Juan Lara recommended an on-field review of the challenge.

Croatia offside ruling Portugal

▪Connected Ball Technology confirmed Croatia's Igor Matanović got a touch on the ball, which played Mario Pašalić offside before Joško Gvardiol scored.
▪Croatia's Joško Gvardiol had an equalizing goal disallowed for offside in the 103rd minute of their match against Portugal on July 3, 2026.

Belgium penalty award Senegal

▪Referee Saíd Martínez awarded the penalty to Belgium following a seven-minute review process recommended by video assistant referee Guillermo Pacheco Larios.
▪Belgium was awarded a penalty in the 118th minute of their match against Senegal on July 1, 2026, after a video assistant referee review of Lamine Camara's challenge on Youri Tielemans.