Egypt lodges FIFA complaint over VAR controversy in Argentina defeat: Reports

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA over the officiating in Egypt's dramatic 3-2 defeat to Argentina, demanding an investigation into a series of controversial decisions during the Round of 16 clash, reports Spanish sports newspaper Diario AS.

Egypt looked set for one of the biggest upsets of the tournament after taking a 2-0 lead and holding it until the 78th minute before Argentina struck three times inside 15 minutes to reach the quarterfinals.

The defeat, however, was overshadowed by heated debate over several refereeing decisions, particularly a disallowed Egyptian goal and penalty appeals that were waved away.

According to Diario AS, citing official sources, EFA president Hany Abo Rida submitted the complaint against French referee François Letexier and his officiating team.

The Egyptian federation has requested both an explanation for the key decisions and a formal investigation into what it described as major officiating errors.

It has also asked FIFA to remove Letexier and his officiating team from the remainder of the World Cup, arguing that their decisions had a decisive impact on the outcome.

Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan had strongly criticised the refereeing immediately after the match, insisting his side had been denied a legitimate penalty while also questioning the decision to disallow Egypt's goal.

The complaint comes as scrutiny over officiating at the 2026 World Cup continues to intensify. Several matches have generated controversy over VAR interventions and disciplinary decisions, with critics questioning whether similar incidents are being judged consistently.

Belgium has also raised concerns over refereeing decisions during the tournament, while UEFA is among those reported to have expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of officiating.

The Argentina-Egypt match has become one of the tournament's biggest talking points, with former France star Thierry Henry also suggesting that inconsistency in the use of VAR, rather than any single decision, was at the heart of the controversy.

Henry argued that Egypt's disallowed goal received a lengthy review, while later penalty appeals did not appear to undergo the same level of scrutiny.

Despite the controversy, the result stands, with defending champions Argentina advancing to the quarterfinals, where they will face Switzerland.

FIFA has yet to comment publicly on Egypt's complaint or indicate whether it will open a formal investigation into the officiating team.