Ishaan Tharoor, global affairs columnist for The New Yorker, discussed the controversial officiating in the Egypt-Argentina match and speculation among critics that FIFA wants certain teams to advance in the tournament, in an interview with CNN anchor Becky Anderson.

After the match, which saw controversial refereeing decisions, accusations emerged that FIFA and its referees are not impartial and that they favor certain teams in the tournament, in this case, the Argentine national team.

Tharoor noted that this is "a very sensitive and controversial topic. We saw very poor officiating in the Egypt-Argentina match, and a goal scored by Egypt should never have been disallowed by VAR."

He continued: "There are many insinuations, doubts, and speculations about the ways FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino want a player like Lionel Messi and Argentina to reach the final."

He also said: "I don't want to stir up conspiracy theories, but you can understand why the Egyptians are angry. However, I think you also have to realize that football has always been associated with injustice, and there has always been controversy. I can't imagine scenarios where one doesn't feel this injustice, but you know, in the end, I think this is a World Cup where no one will be fully happy."

He concluded by saying: "But we have witnessed a great tournament, great matches, great drama, and many decisive encounters."