2026 FIFA World Cup has taken another dramatic turn after Egypt officially filed a complaint against French referee François Letexier following the Pharaohs’ controversial Round of 16 elimination against Argentina. Egyptian officials remain furious over several refereeing decisions and insist they influenced the outcome of the thrilling 3-2 defeat that ended their World Cup campaign.
The controversy intensified after Argentina completed a remarkable comeback from two goals down, while Egypt continued to question key moments of the match, including a disallowed goal and other incidents they believe deserved VAR intervention.
In the middle of the growing dispute, 2026 FIFA World Cup has become overshadowed by debates over officiating rather than football. Head coach Hossam Hassan openly accused the referee of favoring Argentina, claiming his team deserved to advance and insisting that crucial decisions changed the course of the match.
Egypt’s frustration has now turned into official action. Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida submitted a formal complaint against François Letexier and his officiating team, according to Spanish outlet AS. The federation requested a full investigation into the referee’s decisions and asked FIFA to remove the French officials from the remainder of the tournament. FIFA has yet to announce whether it will examine the complaint or take any disciplinary action as 2026 FIFA World Cup.
