Pierluigi Collina has launched a fierce defence of World Cup match officials, declaring that “nobody can question the integrity” of referees after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) demanded they be kicked out of the tournament over alleged bias in their 3-2 defeat to Argentina.
On Tuesday, the EFA asked Fifa to investigate what it called “double standards” of officiating after two second-half decisions went against Egypt, allowing the defending champions to overturn a 2-0 deficit late in the game. Hossam Hassan, Egypt’s manager, was visibly angered after the defeat, saying his side had been “treated unfairly” and “suffered injustice”. He said: “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running.”
“Fifa refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina has defended officials against 'unfounded allegations' after Egypt's complaint over bias in Argentina defeat.”
Collina, Fifa’s chief refereeing officer, responded forcefully in an interview on the governing body’s website. “Of course, constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport,” he 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.”
Two crucial incidents lay behind the Egyptian fury. With Egypt leading 1-0, the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled out a goal by Mostafa Zico after midfielder Marwan Attia was penalised for stepping on Lisandro Martinez’s foot at the start of the move. A potential foul on Mohamed Salah in the Argentina penalty area was also waved away seconds before the reigning champions broke for a stoppage-time winner. Despite normally avoiding comment on specific incidents during a major tournament, Collina backed both calls, explaining that VAR checks the attacking possession phase after every goal and will recommend an on-field review if a foul is deemed to have had an impact.
The furore is not the only officiating controversy at the tournament. Collina also addressed wider criticism of Fifa, including its decision not to uphold an automatic ban for Folarin Balogun after a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina – a move described by Uefa as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”. US president Donald Trump said he asked Fifa to review that decision. Collina insisted that “nobody can claim that Fifa refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the Fifa president [Gianni Infantino]”, who he said has always trusted Fifa Team One to work with complete independence.
With Egypt eliminated and the controversy refusing to fade, the question now is whether Fifa’s investigation will satisfy Hassan and the EFA – or whether the allegations of favouritism will linger through the remainder of the tournament.