FIFA Reviews Referee Letexier's Performance Following Egyptian Protest

A report by French newspaper L'Équipe revealed that the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has begun reviewing the refereeing performance of French referee François Letexier, who officiated the Egypt vs. Argentina match in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, following the official complaint filed by the Egyptian Football Association objecting to a number of his decisions during the match.

According to the newspaper, FIFA's Referees Committee will conduct a comprehensive review of the match, assessing the referee's technical performance, reviewing reports from match officials, and studying controversial refereeing incidents, before deciding on his continued involvement in the tournament.

L'Équipe noted that this review is taking place amid mounting pressure due to Egyptian objections and the widespread controversy surrounding the match. However, it also pointed out that current indicators do not suggest Letexier will be excluded due to his performance against Egypt, noting that the only factor that could affect his continuation is the advancement of the French national team in the tournament, as it has been customary in some editions to spare referees from countries still in the competition from officiating advanced rounds to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

The report also clarified that the Egyptian Federation's demand for the referee's direct removal cannot be implemented, as referee assignments fall exclusively within the jurisdiction of FIFA's Referees Committee, and no national federation has the right to a binding objection against a specific referee appointment.

L'Équipe concluded its report by reminding of Letexier's high international standing, as he previously officiated the final of the 2024 European Championship and won the Best Referee in the World award for 2024, making his removal from the tournament currently unlikely.

It is worth noting that the refereeing controversy erupted after a valid goal for Egypt was disallowed and a penalty for Mohamed Salah was denied, shortly before Argentina scored their third goal, leading to Egypt's 2-3 loss and elimination from the tournament in the Round of 16.