FIFA Officiating Chief Rebuffs Criticism Following Argentina’s Win Over Egypt

Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer, has publicly addressed the contentious decisions made during Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Egypt in the World Cup round of 16. Collina emphasized that match officials operate independently and that the governing body does not influence calls, even at the highest levels of the tournament.

The match, which was broadcast by various media partners, drew significant attention due to two specific incidents involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). In the first instance, Egypt appeared to score a second goal to take a 2-0 lead, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review for a foul in the build-up. Argentina subsequently rallied to tie the score at 2-2.

The second major occurred late in the game when Julian Alvarez challenged Mohamed Salah in the penalty area. Egypt’s players appealed for a penalty, but the referee allowed play to continue. The ball eventually reached Enzo Fernandez, who scored the winning goal. Following the match, Egypt’s manager, Hossam Hassan, alleged that external and internal pressures had influenced the outcome.

Collina acknowledged that while FIFA typically avoids discussing specific incidents during competitions, the governing body felt it necessary to clarify the protocols regarding these specific types of challenges. He explained that there is no strict limit on the time or distance between a foul and the resulting goal when VAR checks for offensive possession. He further detailed that stepping on an opponent’s foot constitutes a foul, whereas a defender making contact after touching the ball first is considered a normal football play. regarding the Alvarez challenge on Salah, Collina defended the decision not to intervene.

Source: original release

What to watch

• Subsequent officiating statements from FIFA as the tournament progresses.
• Viewership ratings for upcoming World Cup matches on networks like Fox Corporation.