Egypt’s Mohamed Salah (10) talks with Referee Francois Letexier, of France, in the course of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
The Egyptian football federation said on Wednesday it had asked for the officiating team from the Pharaohs’ 3-2 defeat to Argentina within the last 16 of the World Cup to be thrown out of the competition.
“Hany Aburida, president of the Egyptian Football Federation, filed a grievance with FIFA, demanding an investigation into the French referee Francois Letexier… after the intense refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards,” said a press release from the federation.
READ: World Cup: Messi leads Argentina to 3-2 comeback win over Egypt
On Tuesday, Letexier ruled out a Mostafa Ziko goal when Egypt were leading 1-0 after VAR intervened to identify a foul on Lisandro Martinez much earlier within the move.
A couple of minutes later, Ziko put Egypt 2-0 up and getting ready to a spot within the last eight for the primary time, but there was further controversy in added time, after Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi had brought the champions level.
Within the build-up to Argentina’s winner scored by Enzo Fernandez, Egypt consider they need to have been awarded a penalty for a pull by Alexis Mac Allister on Hamdy Fathy.
“Aburida demanded the investigation of the whole team of referees, including the video technology referees, due to the blatant errors and insisting on not reviewing a few of the footage that we consider are in favour of the Egyptian national team, and we see in it the Pharaohs’ right to an accurate goal and a penalty,” said the Egyptian statement.
It added the president had also “demanded the exclusion of the referee and the whole crew from the World Cup after investigating these mistakes and proving the crime of discrimination against the Egyptian national team”.
The statement echoed remarks by Egypt coach Hossam Hassan immediately after the sport.
“I don’t want to place it nicely and speak about hard luck. We now have been cheated unfairly today, we have now suffered injustice,” Hassan told reporters.
“We haven’t seen respect or fair play. There has not been respect or fair play.”
Hassan told broadcaster BeIN Sports: “Perhaps they desired to keep the world champions within the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to remain within the running.
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“In football, there are sometimes external aspects that transcend the technical facets. The world champions received support at every level.”