The Egyptian Football Association has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA over what it calls biased officiating during the team's World Cup round of 16 defeat to Argentina on Tuesday. The match, played in Atlanta, saw Egypt lose 2-1 after a controversial penalty decision and several disputed calls by French referee Francois Letexier.
Complaint details and allegations
In a statement released Thursday, the EFA said it had submitted a detailed report to FIFA's refereeing committee, highlighting specific incidents that it believes unfairly influenced the outcome. The complaint alleges that Letexier showed bias toward Argentina, including a penalty awarded to the South American side in the 55th minute that Egypt claims was soft. Video replays showed minimal contact between Egyptian defender Mahmoud Hamdy and Argentina forward Lautaro Martinez, who went down easily in the box.
EFA President Gamal Allam said: "We have strong evidence that the officiating was not up to the standards required for a match of this magnitude. Our players and coaching staff feel deeply wronged, and we expect FIFA to investigate thoroughly." The complaint also cites a disallowed Egyptian goal in the 70th minute for offside, which the EFA argues was incorrect based on available camera angles.
Impact on the match
The penalty decision shifted momentum in Argentina's favor, as they converted to take a 2-0 lead. Egypt had pulled one back through a Mohamed Salah strike in the 63rd minute but could not find an equalizer. Argentina advanced to the quarterfinals, while Egypt exited the tournament in the round of 16 for the second consecutive World Cup.
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan was visibly frustrated after the match, confronting Letexier on the pitch. He later told reporters: "We feel cheated. The referee made decisions that changed the game. We want accountability." The EFA's complaint could lead to a FIFA review, though results are typically not overturned.
Broader context
This is not the first time Egypt has raised concerns about officiating in major tournaments. In the 2018 World Cup, they also criticized refereeing decisions in a group stage loss to Saudi Arabia. The current complaint adds to ongoing debates about referee standards and consistency in international football. FIFA has not yet commented on the complaint.
