By Adegboyega Adeleye
FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has firmly rejected allegations of bias in Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that “nobody can question” the integrity or independence of the tournament’s match officials.
According to Reuters, Collina made the remarks in an interview published on FIFA’s official website on Thursday, responding to complaints from the Egyptian Football Association, EFA, and head coach Hossam Hassan following Tuesday’s controversial Round of 16 defeat to defending champions Argentina.
The controversy erupted after Egypt surrendered a 2-0 lead before Enzo Fernandez scored a stoppage-time winner for Argentina. Following the match, Hassan suggested there may have been pressure to keep Lionel Messi and the reigning world champions in the tournament, while the EFA formally demanded an investigation into what it described as “double standards” in officiating.
Speaking through FIFA’s official channels, Collina addressed the accusations, saying criticism of refereeing decisions is part of football, but drawing the integrity of officials into question crosses the line.
