Egypt Files VAR Complaint After Argentina World Cup Loss

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-07-09

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has filed a formal complaint with FIFA after their team's heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Argentina in the World Cup Round of 16. The match took place on July 7, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium in the United States. The EFA specifically slammed what they call the "improper use" of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. They believe several refereeing decisions directly changed the outcome of the match. Egypt was leading the defending champions 2-0 with just 11 minutes left in normal time. Then Argentina scored three goals in a wild 13-minute span to win the game. The EFA issued a statement saying they cannot remain silent about the officiating. EFA President Hany Abo Rida filed the official complaint against French referee Francois Letexier and his assistants. ### EFA Files Official Complaint to FIFA The Egyptian federation is calling for a full investigation into the decisions made during the knockout game. They've also asked FIFA to remove Letexier and the entire refereeing team from the rest of the tournament. The EFA argued the referee played a decisive part in Argentina winning. In a statement on social media, the federation said the match lacked consistency and fairness. They said they are carrying the responsibility of protecting the rights of the national team with full conviction. The EFA also noted that many international football experts have commented on these controversial incidents. ### The Disallowed Goal Controversy The biggest point of conflict happened in the second half of the match. Egypt's Mostafa Ziko appeared to score a goal that would have given Egypt a 3-0 lead. However, the referee used a VAR review to check the phase of play before the goal. The officials decided that Egypt's Marwan Attia had fouled Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez roughly 20 seconds before the ball entered the net. It was the turning point in the game. Many questioned why VAR went so far back to find a foul. Former England goalkeeper Rob Green stated that the foul was a full length of the pitch away from the goal. He argued that reviewing such a distant incident was not within the proper remit of VAR. ### Pundit and Expert Reaction to Officiating Several famous football figures have supported Egypt's view of the refereeing. Former England captain Alan Shearer criticized the decision-making process on social media. He suggested that if the referee allows minimal contact in one area, he must do the same elsewhere. Meanwhile, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright pointed to a later incident where Mohamed Salah was tripped. Wright argued that if VAR pulled back play for Argentina, it should have done the same for Egypt. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also questioned the consistency of the technology. He stated that in the Premier League or La Liga, Ziko's goal would likely have stood even after a review. However, former referee Chris Foy offered a different view. Foy argued that the decisions to disallow the goal and allow Argentina's winner were technically correct according to the laws of the game. ### Manager Hossam Hassan Announces Boycott After the match, an emotional Hossam Hassan announced that the team would boycott all media appearances until FIFA investigates the officiating. He said the players felt cheated and that their World Cup dreams were stolen. Hassan called for a complete overhaul of how VAR is used in high-stakes matches. - Egypt led 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining - Argentina scored 3 goals in 13 minutes - VAR disallowed a goal that would have made it 3-0 - The foul was called 20 seconds before the goal This controversy has reignited debates about VAR's role in soccer. Some argue it makes the game fairer, while others say it kills the flow and emotion of the sport. For Egypt, this loss will sting for years. The EFA's complaint may not change the result, but it could push FIFA to refine how the technology is used.