VAR call, Argentina win raise questions of legitimacy at World Cup
Argentina's controversial 3-2 win over Egypt in the World Cup round of 16 has sparked debates over a VAR decision and potential external influence on matches.
A new controversy erupted at the World Cup in Atlanta on Tuesday following Argentina's 3-2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16, just as the uproar over US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino's involvement in Folarin Balogun's suspension had subsided.
Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan suggested that match officials and VAR were under pressure to ensure that Argentina's star Lionel Messi remained in the tournament. "Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running. The world champions received support at every level," Hassan told beIN Sports after the match.
Experts say the lines between sport and politics have blurred further. Simon Chadwick, professor of Afro-Eurasian sport at Emlyon Business School in Shanghai, noted that Trump's close ties with Argentina's President Javier Milei could influence the tournament. Chadwick also pointed out that Hassan's vocal support for Palestine might have created biases among officials.
The controversial VAR moment involved Egypt's second goal being disallowed. The referee had not called a foul in real time, but VAR intervened moments after Egypt scored. Subsequently, Argentina scored a goal that some believed involved a similar infringement that was not reviewed. Portuguese football icon Jose Mourinho reportedly called the match "daylight robbery."
Football analyst Ali El Garni said the decisions were borderline but Argentina benefited from all 50/50 incidents. He questioned whether VAR would have intervened if the scoreline had been 2-0 in Argentina's favor instead. "Would the goal have been disallowed if scored by Argentina? It's unlikely," he said.
Chadwick argued that while Egyptian players should not have lost their composure, the VAR decision induced a sense of injustice. He proposed that fans should be able to hear the officials' reasoning for such calls.
Although Chadwick dismissed rumors of match-fixing in favor of Messi, he acknowledged the iconic player's box office appeal and that the tournament could not afford to lose him.
