Pierluigi Collina, the head of FIFA’s refereeing department, has firmly defended the decisions of officials during the controversial Argentina-Egypt match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, dismissing allegations of bias and emphasizing the independence of the refereeing process. In an interview published by FIFA’s official media, Collina rejected claims that any individual—including FIFA President Gianni Infantino—could influence match decisions, stating, “No one can question the integrity of FIFA referees. No one can claim FIFA’s refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even the president of FIFA.”
Collina’s Defense of FIFA Arbiters
The former referee addressed the growing scrutiny of the officiating in the encounter between Argentina and Egypt. The match saw Egypt’s squad express frustration over two key decisions involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Egypt’s Criticisms and FIFA’s Response
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) filed a formal complaint after the match, citing two controversial calls: the disallowed goal of Zico in the first half and a potential penalty against Argentina’s Julián Álvarez. The EFA’s statement noted, “Several key incidents raised serious concerns and questioned the consistency and impartiality of the decisions that directly influenced the match’s outcome.”
Collina addressed these claims directly, explaining the VAR’s role in the first incident. “A foul is a foul, regardless of whether it seems obvious. If the referee didn’t see it on the pitch, the VAR can intervene,” he said. Regarding the second decision, he clarified, “Tackling a player’s foot is a foul, but if a defender touches the ball first and then makes normal contact, it’s not a foul.”
Egyptian players and coaches, including striker Zico and coach Hossam Hassan, reportedly described the match as “unusual” and suggested the tournament “was fixed.” However, Collina dismissed these claims as “dangerous and unfounded,” warning they could escalate to threats against referees and their families. “We have a responsibility to protect our officials from such rhetoric,” he said.
VAR Controversies and FIFA’s Stance
The 2026 World Cup has seen increased use of VAR, a system that has sparked both praise and criticism.
