Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan said the officiating was unfair following the team's 3-2 loss to Argentina on July 7 [1, 2].
The accusations come at a critical juncture in the tournament, as the round-of-16 exit removes Egypt from contention for the trophy. Hassan's claims of systemic bias suggest a perceived lack of impartiality in high-stakes matches involving reigning champions.
Following the match, Hassan targeted the decisions made by the French referee. He specifically pointed to two penalty claims that were waved away during the game [1, 5]. The coach said these errors influenced the final result and left his team at a disadvantage.
"We have suffered an injustice," Hassan said [2].
Hassan did not limit his criticism to a single official. He suggested that the tournament's trajectory was being manipulated to favor the South American side. The coach said the World Cup is directed towards Argentina [3].
Egypt struggled to overcome the deficit despite a competitive performance. The final score ended with Argentina winning 3-2 [1]. This result ensures Argentina advances to the next stage of the competition, while Egypt is eliminated.
"The officiating was unfair," Hassan said [1].
The Egyptian players also voiced their frustration with the match officials. Several players accused the French referee of making unfair decisions throughout the encounter [5]. These complaints reflect a broader tension between the Egyptian camp and the officiating crew during the knockout stage.
“"We have suffered an injustice"”
These allegations highlight the recurring tension between national teams and FIFA officiating in knockout stages. By claiming the tournament is 'directed' toward a specific team, Hassan is not merely criticizing a missed call but challenging the integrity of the competition's fairness, which may lead to formal protests or increased scrutiny of VAR and refereeing standards in subsequent rounds.
