Egypt challenges French arbitration after World Cup elimination and calls for investigation
The Egyptian Football Federation filed a formal complaint addressed to French referee François Letexier and his team of assistants. The measure was taken after the Egypt team’s clash against Argentina and focuses on two specific episodes that occurred during the game.
Among the protests, the decision to cancel striker Zico’s goal, which occurred in the 12th minute of the final stage, stands out, at which time the Egyptian team was ahead on the scoreboard by one to zero. The refereeing team justified the invalidation by claiming a foul committed by Attia on Lisandro Martínez at the beginning of the sequence that culminated in the goal.
More on this story: Argentine refereeing causes controversy in France’s World Cup victory over Morocco
Another point questioned by the federation concerns a possible penalty infraction by Julián Álvarez on Mohamed Salah, a move that preceded Enzo Fernández’s goal, decisive for the Argentine victory. The various expressions of dissatisfaction throughout the game resulted in cards being issued to athletes and members of Egypt’s technical committee.
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Shortly after the match, coach Hossam Hassan described the events as a great injustice. The Egyptian Federation, in its official statement, requested not only a detailed investigation of the two aforementioned moves, but also the immediate withdrawal of the French refereeing quartet from the next World Cup matches. It is important to note that, although complaints are common at major tournaments, the exclusion of referees is a measure rarely adopted by FIFA, reserved for cases of proven misconduct or gross error.
In response to the controversy, the institution released a note on digital platforms, expressing gratitude to the athletes for providing “23 days of the best moments we could have shared”. The Egyptian team ends its participation in the tournament in the United States, marking the best performance of its career in World Cups.
