Egypt’s exit from the World Cup ended in anger, not just heartbreak. After blowing a 2-0 lead against Argentina, the team and coach Hossam Hassan pointed squarely at the officials and VAR.
The controversy centered on a disallowed goal and two penalty claims, turning a dramatic comeback into a storm of accusations. Egypt argued that the match had been handled unfairly, while Argentina celebrated a late escape.
The disallowed goal that changed the mood
Egypt thought it had doubled its lead just before the hour mark after a breakaway goal, but the celebration was cut short by a VAR review. The referee eventually ruled it out after VAR identified a foul on Lisandro Martínez in the buildup.
Most observers would likely accept that it was a foul, but the intervention still left many feeling that VAR should not have stepped in. The decision became the first major flashpoint in a match that kept getting more heated.
| Key Egypt Flashpoints | What Happened | Egypt’s View |
|---|---|---|
| Disallowed goal | VAR spotted a foul on Lisandro Martínez before the goal | Unnecessary intervention |
| Salah incident | Mohamed Salah went down in the Argentina box before the winner | Penalty should have been reviewed |
| Mac Allister challenge | Alexis Mac Allister appeared to pull Hamdy Fathy down | Another possible penalty |
Late drama and a furious reaction
Egypt still scored again through Mostafa Ziko and left Argentina on the brink, but the defending champion responded with three goals in 13 minutes, including the winner in stoppage time. That finish sent the Albiceleste into relief and left Egypt feeling robbed.
The Egyptian bench was furious after the match, claiming a penalty should have been awarded before Enzo Fernández’s winning goal. Replays showed Julián Álvarez got to the ball before Salah went down under contact, but VAR did not send the referee to the screen.
Hassan said after the match, “We have been treated unfairly today” and added, “We have suffered injustice.” He also said, “There has not been respect or fair play because a penalty was ruled out,” and complained that the second penalty appeal was not checked by VAR.
What Egypt is demanding now
According to www.cnn.com, Egypt’s soccer federation has called on FIFA to investigate the referee and asked for the officiating team to be removed from the tournament. Hassan also said he would stop following the World Cup after the match, calling it his own way of protesting.
The anger was easy to understand, but the claim that FIFA wanted Argentina to advance goes beyond what the match showed. Egypt remained 2-0 up with less than 15 minutes to play, and the collapse that followed was their own as much as it was anyone else’s.
That does not erase the frustration over the disallowed goal or the unanswered penalty claims. It does, however, explain why the final score left Egypt feeling the officials had shaped the story of a match they still had every chance to win.
Messi still stands at the center
Amid the outrage, Argentina’s focus stayed on Lionel Messi, who remains a decisive figure at 39 and leads the tournament’s scoring chart with eight goals. Julián Álvarez praised him by saying, “What he’s doing is incredible, and we just try to help him, support him and enjoy every moment alongside him.”
Argentina now moves on to face Switzerland in the quarterfinals on Sunday, while Egypt is left arguing over the moments it believes changed everything.
