🚨 FIFA’s chief refereeing officer, Pierluigi Collina, in a statement has firmly 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 allegations that referees are being influenced in favor of Argentina at the 2026 World Cup 🌎⚠️
“Nobody can claim that FIFA refereeing can be influenced by anyone, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐀 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐨. He has always shown his full support for FIFA Team One while trusting us to work with complete independence.”
“Match officials make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always try to do their best. Of course, constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭.” ‼️
The accusations came from Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan after his side’s round-of-16 elimination by Argentina. Hassan was furious over a goal disallowed for Egypt, and over a penalty he felt should have been awarded in stoppage time before Argentina’s winning goal.
He spoke openly of “pressure” on referee Francois Letexier and called the outcome “unfair.”
FIFA has 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 to these accusations.