FIFA Referee Chief Addresses VAR Controversy in Argentina vs. Egypt Match

VAR Decisions Under Scrutiny

Pierluigi Collina, the Chief Refereeing Officer of FIFA, has spoken out regarding the contentious use of the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) during the Round of 16 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Argentina and Egypt, held on July 7 at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The defending champions staged a remarkable comeback, winning 3-2, with Enzo Fernandez netting the decisive goal in stoppage time after Argentina trailed 2-0 until the 79th minute.

The match was marred by controversy when a goal from Mohammed Salah was disallowed. A VAR review indicated a foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martinez during the build-up. Collina defended the decision made by French referee Francois Letexier and the VAR team, explaining, "Whenever a goal is scored, the VAR reviews the attacking possession phase (APP). If a foul is detected that influenced the goal, the VAR will suggest an on-field review. There are no strict limits on the distance from the goal or the time elapsed between the incident and the goal. In the case of the Argentina vs. Egypt match, Marwan Attia clearly stepped on Lisandro Martínez's foot. We maintain that a foul is a foul. Even if the foul seems 'obvious', if the referee misses it during play, the VAR can step in."

Collina also addressed the calls for a penalty following a foul by Julian Alvarez on Salah just before Argentina's third goal. He clarified, "If no foul is found in the build-up to a goal, the VAR will inform the referee. Stepping on an opponent's foot constitutes a foul, while a defender who touches the ball first and then makes normal contact is not guilty of a foul. This was also evident at the end of the same match, where the referee and VAR determined that the contact between Mohamed Salah and Julián Alvarez was normal football contact."