Egypt have formally asked Fifa to remove the officials from their last-16 defeat to Argentina, alleging bias in favour of the defending champions and their star player Lionel Messi. The accusations, which threaten to overshadow Argentina's run to the final, were made after a tense 3-2 loss that saw Egypt blow a two-goal lead.
"Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running," Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said. His side had been "treated unfairly" and "suffered injustice", he added.
“Egypt allege Fifa bias favouring Argentina and Messi after VAR incidents against Switzerland and England.”
The conspiracy theories have gained traction after two more controversial decisions went Argentina's way in subsequent matches. Against Switzerland in the quarter-finals, Argentina were trailing 1-1 when referee Joao Pedro da Silva Pinheiro booked Leandro Paredes for a foul on Breel Embolo. The VAR intervened, ruling that Embolo had simulated, and advised the referee to go to the pitchside monitor. Because Embolo was already on a yellow card, the switch of the booking meant he was sent off. Switzerland, who were in the ascendancy, lost the extra-time battle and Argentina won 3-1.
Uefa has instructed its VARs not to get involved in simulation under mistaken identity, considering it a misapplication of the protocol. Had the protocol been followed correctly, Argentina would have faced 11 men.
In the semi-final against England, Argentina adopted a physical approach. Within three minutes, Enzo Fernandez pushed his hand into the back of Elliot Anderson's neck in a challenge that some argued met the threshold for violent conduct. The VAR did not intervene, despite a less ambiguous red card shown to South Africa's Themba Zwane in the opening round for a similar offence. England fans also pointed to a possible foul by Messi on Djed Spence in the build-up to Argentina's winning goal.
Argentina now await their final opponents, but the question of whether they have received favourable treatment will not go away.
