‘They wanted Messi to stay’ – Egypt boss slams officials after defeat to Argentina

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has launched a scathing attack on FIFA and match officials following his side’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, claiming the reigning champions received favourable treatment to keep captain Lionel Messi in the tournament.

Argentina produced a remarkable comeback from two goals down to secure victory, with Messi playing a decisive role by scoring once and creating another as the defending champions booked their place in the quarter-finals.

The Egyptians, however, were left furious by a series of controversial decisions during the encounter.

A second-half goal for Egypt was ruled out following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, while officials declined to review an alleged foul by Alexis Mac Allister on Mohamed Salah in the build-up to Enzo Fernández’s stoppage-time winner.

Egyptian players and officials argued that Salah was fouled inside the penalty area moments before Argentina launched the counterattack that led to the decisive goal.

The decision not to review the incident sparked outrage, with several pundits pointing out similarities between the challenge on Salah and the foul that resulted in Egypt’s disallowed goal.

Speaking after the match, Hassan suggested that external influences had affected the outcome of the game.

“We looked better than the reigning champions better in everything but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it,” he told reporters.

“Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running.

“In football, there are sometimes external factors that go beyond the technical aspects. The world champion received support at every level.”

The match was officiated by French referee François Letexier, whose appointment Hassan said Egypt had opposed before the game.

“There seem to be pressures from the Argentina side on this outcome,” he said.

“We were objecting to the selection of the referee because of the French situation, but everybody has to suffer at some point, and we suffered.

“We haven’t seen respect or fair play. A penalty was ruled out. It was not even checked by the VAR, and our second goal was remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed.

“I want to put it in beautiful words and say, ‘Hard luck,’ but we have been treated unfairly, and it has been an injustice.”

Hassan also revealed that he confronted Letexier after the final whistle, accusing the referee of failing to officiate fairly.

“What I told the referee was, ‘This is unfair,’” he said.

“I said maybe he is carrying a scar or has something to hide.

“If somebody is trying to hide something, they often fail to hide it.”

Egypt forward Mostafa Zico also expressed his frustration over the manner of the defeat, saying his side had the match under control before events turned against them.

“Hard luck. The match was in our hands and slipped away at the last moment,” he said.

“Strange things happened on the pitch.

“We were hard done by today, and everyone saw that. We were winning 2-0. After the 2-0 result, everything went against us and worked against us.

“I don’t even know why the second goal was disallowed; I don’t see any reason for it.”