Hossam Hassan claims key refereeing decisions cost Egypt a place in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals; FIFA yet to respond.
July 8: Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has accused FIFA and match officials of showing bias toward Argentina following Egypt’s dramatic 3-2 defeat in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.
Egypt appeared set for a famous victory after taking a 2-0 lead, but Argentina staged a stunning comeback with three late goals to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the match, Hassan alleged there was “no fair play” and claimed that crucial refereeing decisions consistently favored the defending champions. He expressed frustration over a disallowed Egyptian goal following a VAR review and the referee’s decision not to award Egypt a penalty after what he believed was a foul on Mohamed Salah.
“We suffered injustice,” Hassan told reporters, suggesting that the officiating had a significant impact on the outcome. He also alleged that FIFA wanted Argentina to remain in the tournament, comments that have sparked widespread debate among football fans and pundits.
The controversial moments included a VAR intervention that ruled out an Egyptian goal due to a foul in the build-up and a rejected penalty appeal shortly before Argentina scored the decisive winner. While Egyptian players and supporters strongly disputed the decisions, several refereeing experts have maintained that the calls were made in accordance with the Laws of the Game.
To date, FIFA has not issued an official response to Hassan’s allegations.
Despite the controversy, Argentina progressed to the quarter-finals, where they are set to face Switzerland.
Disclaimer: The allegations of bias were made by Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan. At the time of publication, no evidence has been presented to substantiate claims of deliberate favoritism by FIFA or the match officials, and FIFA has not publicly responded.
