Collina Backs Match Official Amid Controversy
FIFA's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, has publicly defended the referee who officiated Argentina's group-stage match against Egypt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The defence follows intense criticism and calls for the official's removal from the tournament after several contentious decisions sparked accusations of bias in favour of Lionel Messi's Argentina.
Egypt's defeat in the Round of 16 fixture intensified the backlash, with fans, players, and coaches alleging that officiating was unfairly tilted toward the reigning world champions. Social media erupted with demands for the referee to be sent home, but Collina has firmly rejected those calls.
Egypt Coach and Player Speak Out
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan publicly questioned the integrity of the officiating, suggesting FIFA favoured Argentina. He stated: "Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running. The world champion received support at every level. There seem to be pressures from the Argentina side on this outcome."
Egypt winger Mostafa Zico also voiced his frustration, telling Al Jazeera: "The referee was really not fair. Not fair. The referee was not fair. The injustice was clear."
Collina's Response
Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA's Referees Committee, pushed back against the allegations in a statement reported by ESPN. He maintained that the officiating met World Cup standards and rejected any notion of punitive action. Collina said: "Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right. Equally, nobody can claim that FIFA refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the FIFA president."
CAF Message to Egypt
Legit.ng earlier reported that Egypt appeared poised to join Morocco as the second African team in the quarter-finals but fell short in the closing minutes. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) shared a post on their official X page with a message for the Egyptians after their record-breaking appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
