Wright claims Enzo Fernandez's winner should have been ruled out after foul on Salah

Ian Wright has argued that Enzo Fernandez’s winning goal in Argentina’s 3-2 Copa America victory over Egypt in Atlanta on Tuesday should have been disallowed, after VAR declined to act on what appeared to be a foul on Mohamed Salah in the build-up.

The reigning world champions had trailed 2-0 following goals from Mostafa Shobeir and Ziko before staging a dramatic late turnaround. Cristian Romero pulled one back with a header, then Lionel Messi equalised before Fernandez’s late strike completed the comeback.

Salah was visibly furious after the final whistle, convinced he had been fouled before Argentina broke upfield to score. Wright, speaking as a pundit, backed the Liverpool forward’s complaint. “If you’re going to pull it back for Argentina on the edge of the box to disallow a goal, you have to pull it back for this one with Mo Salah,” Wright said. “He’s been caught. Whatever we say, it might be minimal, he’s been caught and then they go up the other end.”

Roy Keane offered a more sceptical take on Salah’s fall, questioning why his legs gave way on the challenge, though he acknowledged a broader pattern. “You go back through football, the bigger teams do seem to get the benefit of these decisions,” Keane said, “but it shouldn’t take away from what Argentina have also achieved. You’re 2-0 down with 10 or 11 minutes to go. The credit has to go to Argentina.”

The Fernandez goal was not the only flashpoint. Earlier in the match, VAR ruled out a Ziko goal for a foul on Nicolás Tagliafico in the build-up — a decision Wright also questioned, suggesting the officials had gone back too far in the move. Argentina were also awarded a penalty for a separate foul on Tagliafico, though Messi missed the spot kick.

Gary Neville, when asked whether a similar VAR intervention would have been applied against Argentina, was blunt: “Unlikely.”

Despite the controversy, Argentina advance to the Copa America quarter-finals, where Lionel Scaloni’s side will face either Colombia or Switzerland. A win there would set up a potential semi-final meeting with England or Norway.