ATLANTA — The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has broken its silence to publicly denounce what it calls unjust, biased refereeing decisions that directly led to its 2-3 round-of-16 defeat against Argentina at a men’s World Cup, a match that already goes down as one of the most stunning comebacks in tournament history.
The result shocked football fans across the globe: Egypt held a solid 2-0 lead for much of the second half, before Argentina’s side led by Lionel Messi struck three unanswered goals in just 13 second-half minutes to seal a dramatic comeback victory. Within hours of the final whistle, Egyptian head coach Hossam Hassan and multiple first-team players had already openly criticized the performance of the match officials, saying they were left stunned by inconsistent calls that altered the game’s trajectory.
In an official statement released Wednesday, the EFA emphasized that protecting the national team’s legitimate rights is a non-negotiable core responsibility, not an issue that can be sidelined or downplayed. “It is a responsibility that we carry with full conviction and determination,” the statement read.
The most contentious call came in the 58th minute, when Egypt appeared to score a second goal to double its lead. However, a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review overturned the goal, ruling that Egyptian midfielder Marwan Attia had fouled Argentina center-back Lisandro Martínez in the build-up. The EFA argues that the on-field referee misapplied the VAR system during this key sequence, an error that it says ultimately swung the outcome of the match.
“Several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game,” the statement added.
After the overturned goal, Egypt managed to extend its lead to 2-0 in the 67th minute through a finish from Mostafa Ziko, but the momentum completely shifted in the 79th minute when Messi set up Cristian Romero for Argentina’s first goal, kicking off the 13-minute scoring run that secured Argentina’s win. With Argentina scoring the game-winning goal two minutes into stoppage time, coach Hassan made an “X” gesture with his arms to signal what he says is racially biased officiating, telling reporters post-match that his side had been wronged by a global football system that prioritizes protecting Messi and Argentina.
In the chaotic closing minutes of the match, Egypt’s goalkeeping coach Saafan Elsaghir was sent off with a red card, and multiple Egyptian players received yellow cards. The EFA noted in its statement that a number of independent football experts and analysts have backed Egypt’s claims, reinforcing that the world’s biggest football tournament requires strict commitment to officiating integrity, fairness, and transparency.
The statement also gave voice to the widespread frustration shared by Egypt’s players, coaching staff, and millions of supporters across the country and around the globe. “Every player who wears the Egyptian shirt, and every supporter who stands behind the team, deserves fairness, respect, and equal application of the laws of the game,” it concluded.