The Egyptian Football Association has asked the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to exclude French referee François Letexier from the remainder of the 2026 World Cup, denouncing 'blatant refereeing errors' during the round of 16 match that the Egyptian national team lost to Argentina on Tuesday (3-2).

Through its president, Hany Abou Rida, the Egyptian Football Association demanded in a statement that FIFA open an investigation into Letexier 'after the blatant refereeing errors committed by the refereeing crew and the double standards, which caused the Egyptian national team to lose the match and exit the World Cup,' according to the statement.

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It also demanded that the main referee, his assistants, and the video referees be banned from officiating World Cup matches 'after investigating these errors and proving the crime of discrimination against the Egyptian national team, causing them to lose the match and exit the tournament.' It specifically criticized 'the insistence on not reviewing certain incidents,' which it considered 'entitled the Pharaohs to a valid goal and a penalty kick.' During the match, Letexier disallowed a goal by Egyptian striker Mustafa Abdel Raouf 'Ziko' early in the second half after intervention by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) due to a foul in the build-up. The Egyptians also believe they deserved a penalty in stoppage time for a shirt pull on Hamdy Fathy and contact between Mohamed Salah and Julián Álvarez inside the penalty area, just before Argentina's third goal. After the match, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan criticized the officiating, describing it as 'unfair and unjust.' He added in a press conference: 'There was pressure on the referee from the Argentine camp, which led to this result.'