Argentina through as Egypt cry foul over Letexier

Your team is through, but Egypt are furious

Argentina beat Egypt on Tuesday to reach the World Cup quarterfinals. The result has been swallowed by a refereeing storm. French official François Letexier and his VAR team are at the center of it, with two key incidents dominating every post-match conversation (1) (2) (5). The first: Marwan Attia stepping on Lisandro Martínez. No card given (1). The second: a collision between Julián Álvarez and Mohamed Salah late in the match. Letexier ruled it normal contact, and VAR did not intervene (1) (2).

Collina: the referee got both calls right

FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina has now spoken, and he backed Letexier without hesitation. On Attia's challenge he was blunt: stepping on an opponent's foot is a foul (1) (2). On the Álvarez-Salah incident, he called it a textbook example of a defender touching the ball first and then making normal contact, no foul (1) (2). "Nobody can claim FIFA refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by president Gianni Infantino," Collina added. "Referees make honest decisions" (1) (2).

Egypt file an official complaint with FIFA

Egypt are not letting this go. They have formally asked FIFA to suspend Letexier and review his performance in the match (5). Egyptian media have gone further, calling the French referee "bought" and the result a robbery (7) (8). Across the Atlantic, New York mayor Eric Adams weighed in during a transport speech: "Egypt were robbed against Argentina" (9). Collina's response to the abuse was sharp: "When this happens, it can provoke reactions that result in threats against them and their families. This is not acceptable" (1) (2).

Brazilian rivals bow to Messi

Here is something that does not happen every day. After your team's comeback win over Egypt, the Brazilian press and several Brazilian football figures called Messi the best in history (6). No caveats, no grudging half-praise. Just acknowledgment from the old enemy (6).

Klose on the phone call Messi made after the record fell

Miroslav Klose, the man whose World Cup goal record Messi broke, told a lovely story this week. He and Scaloni were teammates at Lazio between 2011 and 2013, and they still talk. Scaloni arranged a phone call between Klose and Messi. "It was very emotional," Klose said. "That call was the first time we spoke after so long without playing. He told me he would send me a signed shirt" (3).

Why you will never see an English referee on an Argentina match

Two of the World Cup's elite referees, Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, are barred from officiating any Argentina fixture. The reason is political: the Falklands War and lingering diplomatic tensions between Argentina and England mean the appointments are blocked before they are ever considered (4). As your team advances deeper into the tournament, this becomes more relevant. If England also progress, the semifinal and final referee pools shrink for both sides (4).

Fan-reaktioner

The fallout from Tuesday's match is splitting opinion far beyond Egypt. A top Egyptian referee publicly stated the referee was not the reason Egypt lost, pushing back against the conspiracy narrative swirling online. Meanwhile, France manager Didier Deschamps went out of his way to praise Letexier's performance, saying he hopes his own semifinal referee is "as good as Mr. Letexier and his assistants." And in a separate story that has nothing to do with the football on the pitch, reports emerged that the AFA is caught up in an FBI investigation into alleged money laundering, a story fans are watching with growing unease. Read the full thread