Egypt furious as Argentina's stoppage-time comeback sparks referee controversy at World Cup

Egypt’s World Cup campaign ended in bitter controversy on Sunday as Argentina completed a stunning 3-2 comeback from 2-0 down in their last-16 tie, with manager Hossam Hassan and goalscorer Mostafa Ziko both accusing referee François Letexier of delivering an “unfair” result that handed the defending champions an undeserved victory.

The Pharaohs had looked set for one of the tournament’s great upsets before Argentina rallied to score three times, with Enzo Fernandez heading the winner in stoppage time. Egypt’s fury centred on two specific incidents: a Ziko goal disallowed while Egypt led 1-0, and what they believed was a foul on Mohamed Salah in the build-up to Fernandez’s decisive header — a moment VAR did not review.

“A penalty was ruled out and a second incident that should have been checked for a penalty for us was not even checked by VAR,” Hassan said. “A second goal was remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed. There seems to have been pressure on the Argentinian side on the referee that has brought about this outcome.”

Hassan did not stop there, suggesting the outcome had been shaped by forces beyond the pitch. “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition? Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running?” he told beIN Sports. “The world champions benefited from support at every level. It’s an undeserved victory for Argentina. Once I’m back home, I’ll never watch the World Cup again, because there’s no justice in this competition.”

Ziko, who had the goal ruled out and later scored to put Egypt 2-0 ahead, was equally scathing. “It was not fair from the referee — that was very clear,” he said through a translator. “He wasted all of our efforts with his decisions. The cup is directed towards Argentina.”

Hassan also criticised the 12pm ET kick-off time at Atlanta Stadium, though the venue’s air-conditioning system meant heat was not a practical factor in the match.

Argentina’s comeback will rank among the most dramatic of the tournament so far, but the manner of it has left Egypt’s camp convinced they were denied a historic result by officiating decisions that will be debated long after the final whistle.