FIFA World Cup: Refereeing chief denies bias claims in Argentina-Egypt game

Pierluigi Collina said that specified allegations of bias could provoke threats against referees and their families.

FIFA refereeing main ‌Pierluigi Collina has defended the officiating successful Argentina’s melodramatic 3-2 triumph implicit Egypt successful the World ⁠Cup circular of ⁠16, dismissing allegations of bias and saying lucifer officials operated with implicit independence.

In an interview published connected FIFA’s website connected Thursday, Collina said disapproval of referees was portion ⁠of football, but helium condemned the questioning of the officials’ integrity aft Egypt complained astir the officiating pursuing the defeat.

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“With specified a precocious fig of matches played successful a comparatively abbreviated play of time, it is mean that immoderate things bash not spell arsenic expected,” Collina said. “When that happens, they [referees] are acceptable to enactment adjacent harder to guarantee they are afloat prepared for the adjacent match.

“Of course, constructive treatment astir decisions volition ever beryllium portion of football, but unfounded allegations person nary spot successful our sport.”

Collina said that specified allegations could provoke threats against referees and their families.

“Nobody tin question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup lucifer officials … Equally, cipher tin assertion that FIFA refereeing tin beryllium influenced by anyone, not adjacent by the FIFA president [Gianni Infantino],” helium added.

“Match officials marque honorable decisions and, conscionable similar players and coaches, they ever effort to bash their best.”

French referee Francois Letexier speaks with Egypt guardant Mohamed Salah during the 2026 World Cup circular of 16 shot lucifer betwixt Argentina and Egypt astatine Atlanta Stadium [Roberto Schmidt/AFP]

Egypt exited ‌the tourney but claimed they had been treated unfairly, aft Argentina overturned a 2-0 shortage with 11 minutes remaining to snatch triumph with a stoppage-time victor from Enzo Fernandez.

Coach Hossam Hassan alleged aft the lucifer that determination may person been unit connected the referee to support Argentina successful the tournament, and that Egypt were “cheated” retired of a spot successful the quarterfinals.

The Egyptian Football Association besides criticised the refereeing decisions, saying it would not stay soundless implicit what it described arsenic the improper usage of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

Egypt ⁠argued that Mostafa Zico’s second-half onslaught was incorrectly ruled retired for what ⁠it described arsenic a non-existent foul successful the build-up. Egypt were besides incensed that a situation connected Mohamed Salah was not penalised moments earlier Argentina launched the determination that produced the winning goal.

Egypt’s caput manager Hossam Hassan speaks with French referee Francois Letexier during the 2026 World Cup circular of 16 shot lucifer betwixt Argentina and Egypt [Roberto Schmidt/AFP]

FIFA’s Collina said VAR had correctly ⁠recommended overturning Zico’s goal, aft identifying a foul by Marwan Attia connected Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez during the attacking possession phase.

“We judge that a ⁠foul is simply a foul,” Collina said. “Regardless of whether the foul ⁠appears ‘obvious’, if the referee did not spot it connected the tract of play, the VAR tin intervene.”

Collina besides defended the determination not to grant Egypt a punishment earlier Argentina’s winner, saying some the referee and VAR judged the interaction betwixt ‌Salah and Julian Alvarez to beryllium “normal shot contact”.

“Stepping connected an opponent’s ft is simply a foul, whereas a defender who touches the shot archetypal and past makes mean shot interaction has not ‌committed ‌a foul,” helium said.

While acknowledging that immoderate decisions would ever impact an element of subjectivity, Collina said FIFA was satisfied with however VAR principles had been applied passim the tournament.