Argentina's comeback against Egypt marred by hugely controversial disallowed goal

Argentina secured their round of 16 qualification at the World Cup by overturning Egypt (3-2), but the Albiceleste’s victory was immediately overshadowed by a major refereeing controversy: an Egyptian goal ruled out by VAR for a minimal contact that occurred more than 90 metres from the Argentine goal.

Lionel Messi was the architect of Argentina’s comeback, providing an assist and scoring a goal within three minutes to spark the turnaround. But it is a decision by referee François Letexier, alerted by VAR early in the second half, that has dominated the debate since the final whistle.

Just as Egypt had completed a superb counter-attack, VAR reviewed the play to flag minimal contact during ball recovery, more than 90 metres from the Argentine goal and a dozen seconds before the goal. For many observers, this intervention contradicts the refereeing philosophy seen throughout the tournament.

“The disallowed Egyptian goal was completely contrary to the way this tournament has been refereed,” said Dale Johnson of the BBC. “You can’t have a lenient approach where you don’t whistle fouls for minimal contact, then disallow a goal via VAR for a very slight tug on the shirt.” His colleague Rob Harris of Sky News agrees: “Technology in football was never designed for this — to go back so far in play to examine a lighter intervention at the other end of the pitch.”

Journalist Henry Winter quipped: “If VAR had gone back further in that Egyptian move, Tutankhamun would have been involved.” Romain Molina was frustrated: “Next time Egypt scores against Argentina, VAR might go back five minutes.”

Norwegian pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft also highlighted an inconsistency: a similar foul at the start of an action leading to a Messi goal against Austria had not been flagged by VAR. The controversy does not end there: at the start of Argentina’s third goal, an Egyptian attacker appeared to be fouled by Alexis Mac Allister — an action that, had it been whistled, could have resulted in a penalty and a 2-2 scoreline rather than 3-2 for Argentina.