The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has reportedly fallen victim to a cyberattack after hackers gained unauthorized access to official accounts and circulated a fake email alleging that Argentina benefited from “corrupt refereeing decisions” in their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 victory over Egypt.
According to reports, the email falsely claimed that match officials deliberately favored Argentina during the knockout clash, sparking confusion and widespread discussion across social media before the message was identified as fraudulent.
The hackers, believed to be from Egypt, used the compromised accounts to distribute the fabricated statement in an apparent attempt to discredit Argentina’s victory and fuel controversy surrounding the match.
The AFA has since moved to secure the affected accounts and is expected to investigate the security breach while working to identify those responsible for the cyberattack. The federation is also likely to cooperate with relevant authorities to prevent further unauthorized access.
Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals, where they are set to face Switzerland. The fabricated email has no connection to the AFA’s official position, and there has been no evidence presented to support the claims of biased officiating.
The incident highlights the growing threat of cyberattacks targeting football governing bodies and the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly during major international tournaments.
image: Getty image
