Egypt has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA alleging biased refereeing during its Round of 16 loss to Argentina [1, 3].
The challenge marks a rare escalation in a tournament setting, as the Egyptian federation suggests that the governing body intentionally favored a global superstar to ensure his continued presence in the competition.
The dispute follows a match on Tuesday during the 2026 FIFA World Cup [4] that ended in a 3-2 victory for Argentina [1]. Head coach Hossam Hassan and the national football federation said their grievances are focused on the performance of referee François Letexier and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions made during the contest [1, 2].
Egypt alleges that FIFA favored Lionel Messi and wanted to keep him in the tournament [1, 2]. The federation is calling for a formal investigation into the officiating, suggesting that the decisions were not impartial, and directly contributed to Egypt's exit from the competition [3].
According to reports, the Egyptian side believes the injustice in refereeing cost them the game [1]. While the federation seeks a review of the match results, FIFA has not yet issued a formal response to the specific allegations of bias toward the Argentine captain [1, 2].
This friction comes as the tournament progresses through its high-stakes knockout stages [1]. The Egyptian camp said the situation is a matter of sporting integrity, arguing that the application of rules must be uniform regardless of the profile of the players involved [2].
“Egypt alleges that FIFA favoured Lionel Messi and wanted to keep him in the tournament”
This formal challenge puts FIFA in a difficult position regarding the perceived neutrality of VAR and officiating. If the investigation reveals systemic errors, it could lead to unprecedented calls for transparency in how the governing body manages high-profile players in knockout stages. However, FIFA rarely overturns match results, meaning the complaint may serve more as a diplomatic protest than a viable path to reinstatement.
