Egypt captain Mohamed Salah has criticised the match officials following his team’s painful 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16, claiming that the result was influenced by decisions beyond the control of the players.
The Pharaohs appeared on course for a famous victory after taking a two-goal lead, but Argentina staged a remarkable comeback in Atlanta to secure their place in the quarter-finals. However, Salah believes key refereeing calls played a major role in shifting the momentum of the contest.
Speaking after the final whistle, the Liverpool forward expressed his disappointment with the standard of officiating and suggested Egypt were not given a fair chance to compete.
“We gave it our all, but when the refereeing is constantly against you, it becomes impossible to compete,” Salah said after the match.
The Egyptian skipper stressed that his comments were not intended as an excuse for the defeat, but argued that the decisions made during the match were clear for everyone watching to judge. He also hinted that external factors may have affected the outcome, suggesting that it appeared Argentina had received favourable treatment.
وسائل الإعلام العالمية جمعت مشاهد تؤكد كيف ذُبح منتخب مصر داخل الملعب، وهكذا سُرقت منه المباراة بقرارات الحكم الفرنسي فرانسوا ليتكسييه، وتواطوء رئيس الاتحاد الدولي جياني ارچنتينو، وتخاذل رئيس الاتحاد المصري هاني أبو ريدة ..
لن يغيّر هذا الفيديو النتيجة، لكنه سيبقى وثيقة تذكّر… pic.twitter.com/KL2hKCgYTs— mohamed salah (@SalahAlhayat) July 8, 2026
The biggest flashpoint came late in the game when Egypt protested a challenge involving Salah in the build-up to Argentina’s winning goal. The North Africans had also raised concerns over several earlier decisions they felt went against them during the encounter.
Salah’s reaction reflected the anger and disappointment within the Egyptian camp after surrendering a two-goal advantage against one of the tournament favourites.
Head coach Hossam Hassan shared his captain’s frustration, launching a strong criticism of the officials after the match. The Egypt boss accused the referees of unfair treatment towards his team and said he had no intention of following the remainder of the tournament.
