World Cup 2026: FIFA begins review of official at centre of Egypt vs Argentina clash

FIFA is reviewing the performance of referee Francois Letexier following Egypt’s official protest over the officiating in their controversial Round of 16 defeat by Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Egyptian Football Association submitted a formal complaint after the 3-2 loss, urging FIFA to remove Letexier and his officiating team from the remainder of the tournament following several contentious decisions during the match.

According to French newspaper L’Equipe, FIFA’s Referees Committee will conduct a full technical assessment of Letexier’s performance, examining the referee’s match report, the reports of the officiating team and a number of disputed incidents before deciding whether he will continue to officiate later matches.

Egypt questioned key decisions

The Egyptian Football Association’s complaint centred on several decisions that sparked widespread debate during the closing stages of the match.

Among the incidents highlighted were the disallowed goal for Egypt and the decision not to award Mohamed Salah a penalty shortly before Argentina scored the winning goal, with the federation arguing that the officiating had a decisive impact on the outcome.

The review comes amid significant scrutiny following Egypt’s objections and the widespread reaction that followed the match.

FIFA retains authority over referee appointments

Despite Egypt’s request, L’Equipe reported that FIFA’s Referees Committee has sole responsibility for appointing officials, meaning no national association can demand that a specific referee be removed from the tournament.

Instead, Letexier’s future will depend entirely on the committee’s evaluation of his overall performance during the match.

The report added that there is currently no indication the French official will be withdrawn solely because of his display in the Egypt-Argentina encounter.

However, another factor could influence future appointments. If France continue progressing deep into the tournament, FIFA may choose not to appoint a French referee for the latter stages, in keeping with a practice used at previous major competitions to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

One of football’s highest-rated officials

L’Equipe noted that Letexier remains one of the most highly regarded referees in world football.

The French official took charge of the UEFA Euro 2024 final and was recognised as the world’s best referee in 2024, achievements that make an immediate removal from the World Cup unlikely despite the controversy surrounding Egypt’s elimination.

FIFA has yet to announce the outcome of its review or whether Letexier will receive another appointment during the remainder of the tournament.