Egypt demand FIFA remove their referee — as an all-Argentine crew takes charge of France v Morocco

Egypt were 2-0 up on Argentina with 11 minutes left in their round-of-16 tie in Atlanta, the biggest win in their World Cup history within reach. Then a VAR intervention wiped out a Mostafa Zico goal, and three late Argentina goals turned the game. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has called the officiating "double standards" and, on Wednesday, lodged a formal complaint with FIFA — demanding that referee Francois Letexier of France and his crew be removed from the rest of the tournament.

At 5am Japan time on Thursday, the quarterfinals opened in Boston with France against Morocco. The five match officials are all Argentine — the first single-nationality crew of this World Cup — and the fact that the nation is Argentina, France's fiercest recent rival, has carried the refereeing row right into matchday.

From 2-0 to a 93rd-minute defeat

According to The National, Zico's goal was chalked off in the 58th minute after Letexier was sent to the pitchside monitor to review a foul in the build-up on Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez; replays showed Marwan Attia pulling his shirt and stepping on him. Zico scored again soon after to make it 2-0, but Argentina equalised through Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi before Enzo Fernandez buried the winner in the 93rd minute from Lautaro Martinez's cross. Egypt had two late penalty appeals waved away — Hamdy Fathy going down under an Alexis Mac Allister shirt-pull, and Mohamed Salah after contact with Julian Alvarez — with VAR declining to intervene.

"The tournament is rigged" — Egypt's case and FIFA's response

The EFA confirmed its complaint on Wednesday, saying it questioned "the fairness and consistency of some decisions and the use of VAR." It wants an investigation and the removal of Letexier's crew, and FIFA has acknowledged receipt. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan told beIN Sports there was "no respect, and no fair play today," and suggested officials wanted to keep Messi in the tournament. Zico went further, calling the tournament "rigged." FIFA reviews referees internally after every match but rarely criticises them publicly. If it sides with the EFA, Letexier's team is unlikely to be handed quarterfinal, semifinal, third-place or final duty. Officials are usually named 24 to 48 hours before kick-off, and FIFA is unlikely to explain its reasoning either way.

A rival judged by that rival's officials

This morning's opener is refereed by Facundo Tello, 44, taking charge of France for the first time. Assistants Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade, fourth official Dario Herrera and reserve assistant Cristian Navarro are all Argentine too. France and Argentina met in the last two finals, and after the 2024 Copa America final footage emerged of Argentina players singing a chant insulting France's players of African descent, prompting a French federation complaint to FIFA. France, though, are playing it down: "I'm not going to focus on who the referee will be — we never have. We focus on Morocco," said defender Dayot Upamecano.

Why it matters to readers in Japan

Brazil, who knocked Japan out, and Argentina, who beat Egypt, both had their runs shadowed by refereeing debate. VAR and officiating consistency have become this tournament's longest-running off-pitch story. Argentina's next opponent is Switzerland, who won a shootout with Colombia (the quarterfinal is in Kansas City, Sunday US time). Which officials FIFA assigns to the last eight and beyond over the coming days will, in effect, be its answer to Egypt's complaint.