Enzo Fernandez’s late header completed a stunning Argentina comeback in Atlanta, but the 3-2 victory was overshadowed by accusations of rigging from Egypt star Mostafa Ziko. The reigning world champions had trailed 2-0 before scoring three unanswered goals to keep their title defence alive.
Ziko, who had scored Egypt’s second goal, did not hold back. “The referee wasn’t good, he was unfair,” he said. “His injustice was clear. He persecuted us from the start of the match. He doesn’t want us to win. It was a rigged game. It wasn’t our fault. That referee… it seems like this match was rigged. We were winning 2-0, and he kept coming at us. Congratulations to Argentina on another World Cup, it seems.”
“Egypt's Mostafa Ziko says their 3-2 World Cup defeat by Argentina was 'rigged' after controversial refereeing.”
The controversy centred on two key incidents: Egypt had a goal ruled out by VAR after an apparent foul on Nicolas Tagliafico earlier in the move, and they were denied a penalty just moments before Argentina’s winning goal. Egypt boss Hossam Hassan also took aim. “We haven’t seen respect or fair play,” he said. “A penalty was ruled out and a second incident that should have been checked for a penalty for us was not even checked by the VAR. A second goal was remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed. There seems to have been pressure on the Argentinian side on the referee that has brought about this outcome.”
Hassan added: “Life is unfair. The world is unfair. OK, but why isn’t there any fairness in sports? I’m not convinced by this outcome and by the way things unfolded in this match. The referee is unfair, God is sufficient for me and the best disposer of affairs. He’s wasting the effort of an entire nation. The cup is directed towards Argentina.”
Despite the fury, Ziko acknowledged Argentina’s quality. “At no point did we think the match was already decided. We knew we were facing the reigning world champions,” he said. “But if they had won solely on their own merits it would have been very different for us.”
Argentina’s dramatic victory keeps them on course for back-to-back World Cups, but the allegations of rigging are unlikely to fade quickly.