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Egypt's 3-2 defeat to Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has produced the tournament's most charged officiating controversy yet, with Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan and forward Mostafa Ziko alleging the result was manipulated to keep Lionel Messi and the reigning champions in the competition.
The case for grievance has real material to work with. What complicates it is what Egypt allowed in the final 25 minutes.
What Hassan and Ziko said after Tuesday's loss Hassan did not limit himself to technical objections.
He told reporters his side had been treated "unfairly" and said the result was shaped by "internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it," adding that the world champion had received "support at every level." He also said there appeared to be "pressure on the Argentinian side on the referee." Ziko was more direct: "It was a rigged game." Their complaints centered on three specific calls.
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