Egypt’s heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 has sparked a fresh debate over VAR, with head coach Hossam Hassan accusing the officiating team of treating his side unfairly after the Pharaohs let a two-goal lead slip in the final 11 minutes in Atlanta.
Argentina stormed back through Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez to book their place in the quarter-finals. But while the defending champions celebrated another great World Cup escape, the mood in the Egyptian camp was one of disbelief, with players and coaches convinced that two contentious refereeing decisions changed the course of the contest.
Argentina vs Egypt, FIFA World Cup: HIGHLIGHTS
“I’m not convinced with this outcome. I’m not convinced with the way things unfolded during this match,” Hassan said after the match.
“We have been treated unfairly today. We have suffered injustice.”
The Egypt coach insisted his side had matched, and even outplayed, the reigning world champions for much of the contest.
“We looked better compared to the reigning champions. We were better in everything, but the result, the outcome, was influenced by internal factors on the pitch, inside the game, and external factors ahead of the game,” Hassan said.
His frustration stemmed largely from two incidents involving VAR, one that ruled out what would have been Egypt’s second goal, and another when the Pharaohs were denied an on-field review after appealing for a penalty moments after Argentina scored the winner.
VAR STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT
Egypt had already taken a deserved first-half lead through Yasser Ibrahim and had even survived a Lionel Messi penalty after goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir produced a brilliant save. Then, in the 58th minute, they thought they had landed another decisive blow.
Haissem Hassan carried the ball from deep inside Egypt’s half before finding Mohamed Salah, who slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Mostafa Zico. The forward finished confidently past Emiliano Martinez and Egypt’s celebrations began.
They did not last.
Referee Francois Letexier was sent to the pitch side monitor after VAR spotted a foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martinez earlier in the move. Replays showed Attia pulling back the Argentina defender before stepping on his foot while Argentina were still building an attack. Letexier overturned the goal, ruling that the foul had occurred during the attacking phase leading to the goal.
The decision immediately divided opinion.
Former England goalkeeper Rob Green questioned whether VAR should have intervened at all.
“Surely, this is not within VAR’s realm to review this. It’s a full length of the pitch away,” Green said on FOX Sports.
Former FIFA referee Dr Joe Machnik, however, backed the decision, saying that once officials judged it to be a foul in the attacking phase, VAR was right to recommend an on-field review.
Egypt refused to let the setback affect them. Ten minutes later, they sliced Argentina open again, with Salah and Hassan combining brilliantly before Zico fired home once more. This time, the goal stood, putting the Pharaohs 2-0 ahead and seemingly on course for one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.
EGYPT ALLEGE INJUSTICE BY VAR
Argentina eventually mounted an astonishing comeback as Romero pulled one back before Messi levelled the scores. Deep into stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez headed home what proved to be the winner, but Egypt believed there should have been one final VAR intervention.
As the Pharaohs desperately searched for an equaliser, they appealed for a penalty after Alexis Mac Allister appeared to pull an Egyptian attacker inside the box. Play continued without Letexier being called to review the incident, sparking furious protests from the Egypt bench. Hassan was booked during the chaotic closing stages, while one member of his coaching staff was shown a red card.
The Egypt coach also questioned the scheduling of the fixture, criticising the decision to stage a knockout match at noon in Atlanta.
“I dare to say that whoever schedules those matches is someone who doesn’t and has never played football. At noon you go for a stroll, you go to get some fresh air, maybe go on a brunch, but you do not go onto the pitch,” Hassan said.
“There have been a lot of things to be questioned on and off the pitch. It’s just about credibility, lack of credibility with how things unfolded. I’m proud of my players. But we have not received what we deserve.”
Zico, whose evening swung from elation to heartbreak, was equally emotional after the final whistle.
“No fair play. The referee wasn’t fair. This is blatant injustice, clear for everyone to see. He’s throwing away the hard work of the entire country,” the forward said.
He then ended his post-match remarks with a biting, sarcastic swipe at the reigning World champions.
“Congratulations, congratulations to Argentina on winning the World Cup. Congratulations. That’s it. They don’t need anything else.”
The controversy is unlikely to change the result. Argentina are through to the quarter-finals after another dramatic escape, while Egypt leave the tournament with their finest World Cup performance what they alleged to be marred by VAR.
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