Egypt forward Mostafa Zeko has sparked major controversy by claiming the FIFA World Cup was “fixed” after his side suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16, accusing match officials of making crucial decisions that favored the defending champions.
Egypt appeared to be on course for one of the biggest upsets of the tournament after racing into a 2-0 lead late in the second half. However, inspired by captain Lionel Messi, Argentina staged a sensational comeback, scoring three unanswered goals to book a place in the quarter-finals.
The thrilling finish quickly became overshadowed by heated criticism from the Egyptian camp, with players and supporters questioning several key refereeing decisions.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Zeko did not hide his frustration. He claimed the referee’s approach had been unfair from the opening whistle and suggested that Egypt had been denied a fair opportunity to progress.
“It feels as if the tournament has already been designed for a particular team,” Zeko said, arguing that months of preparation and the hopes of an entire nation had been undone by controversial officiating.
Egypt’s complaints centered on two incidents that proved decisive.
The first came when Zeko thought he had scored, only for the goal to be ruled out following a VAR review for a foul in the build-up. Egyptian players strongly disputed the decision, insisting the goal should have stood.
The second flashpoint arrived deep into stoppage time when Mohamed Salah went down inside the Argentine penalty area. Egypt appealed passionately for a penalty, but the referee waved play on, leaving the players furious.
Moments later, Enzo Fernández struck the winning goal for Argentina, completing a remarkable turnaround and sending the reigning champions into the last eight.
The controversial ending triggered emotional scenes, with Egyptian players surrounding the match officials after the final whistle while disappointed fans voiced their frustration over the referee’s decisions.
Despite the allegations, there has been no official response from FIFA regarding Zeko’s comments or the refereeing decisions. Argentina, meanwhile, shifted its focus to the quarter-finals, where it will face Switzerland in another high-profile clash.
The dramatic encounter has become one of the tournament’s most talked-about matches, with debate over the officiating continuing to dominate discussions across the football world.
