EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Egyptian Football Association has said it "cannot remain silent regarding the refereeing decisions" following the team's round-of-16 loss to Argentina at the World Cup.Argentina went through to the quarterfinals in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, when they came back from 2-0 down against Egypt to win 3-2.The winning goal from Enzo Fernndez came two minutes into stoppage time and set off a wild scene in front of the Egyptian bench. A red card was shown to goalkeeping coach Saafan Elsaghir, who had to be physically restrained from going after French referee Francois Letexier. Multiple yellow cards were doled out to those griping vehemently about Argentina's final goal."The Egyptian Football Association cannot remain silent regarding the refereeing decisions witnessed during the match against Argentina as well as the failure to make appropriate use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system," the EFA said in a statement Wednesday morning."Several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game."The statement added: "What occurred during the match has understandably generated widespread frustration among our players, staff, and supporters, who expected the highest standards of officiating on football's biggest stage."Egypt took a 2-0 lead anyway on Mostafa Zico's goal in the 67th minute, but there was still enough time for Argentina to pull off a comeback for the ages in the stadium that is normally the home of NFL's Atlanta Falcons.Egypt fumed at having a goal disallowed following a VAR review and then a subsequent failure to check on an apparent foul by Alexis Mac Allister in the immediate buildup to Fernndez's match-winning goal.On Tuesday, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said his team was the victim of an "injustice" and suggested that FIFA wanted Lionel Messi to "stay in the running" at the competition.Messi scored the equalizer in the match to make it 2-2.- Egypt boss bemoans 'injustice' after loss to Argentina at World Cup- Where would Argentina be if not for Messi? On a flight home from this World Cup- World Cup VAR review: Were Egypt unfairly denied a pivotal goal vs. Argentina?"We looked better than the reigning champions -- better in everything -- but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it," Hassan said after the match. "Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running."Argentina moved on to face Switzerland in the quarterfinals.For Hassan, the tournament is over. He has no intention of watching any more soccer."I promise you, from the moment I go back, I'm not going to continue following the matches of this FIFA World Cup," he said. "This is my internal fight, my internal objection, my own way of speaking up and standing up."I am not going to watch, not a single match of this tournament."FIFA has not commented on the statement by the Egyptian FA.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
