The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has submitted an official complaint against French referee François Letexier, alleging discrimination and bias against the Pharaohs during their 2026 World Cup round of 16 clash against Argentina.
This move follows a fierce post-match attack by Egypt manager Hossam Hassan, who slammed Letexier for allowing Argentina’s winning third goal without consulting VAR. Hassan claimed that FIFA favored Argentina’s continuation in the tournament for marketing and commercial reasons.
Hany Abo Rida Intervenes in Letexier Crisis
EFA President Hany Abo Rida, who also serves as an influential member of the FIFA Council, has taken direct action, demanding the immediate expulsion of Letexier—considered one of the world’s elite referees—from the tournament.
In an official statement, the Egyptian FA declared: “The French referee committed catastrophic officiating errors and applied a clear double standard, which directly led to the Egyptian national team losing the match and exiting the World Cup.”
The statement added: “Abo Rida has demanded the exclusion of the referee and his entire officiating crew from the World Cup, following an investigation into these errors to prove the act of discrimination against the Egyptian team.”
A Controversial Appointment for Argentina and Egypt
Interestingly, the Argentine Football Association had also expressed reservations over Letexier’s appointment prior to the match. Pundits suggest the referee may have been influenced by the pre-match pressure, leading to controversial decisions that ultimately favored La Albiceleste.
Prior to the Egypt-Argentina blockbuster, the 37-year-old French official had refereed two group stage matches at the 2026 World Cup: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, and Saudi Arabia vs. Cape Verde.
