Following Egypt's 3-2 World Cup defeat to Argentina, the Egyptian Football Association formally challenged the match officials' impartiality and sought their removal from the tournament. FIFA's chief refereeing officer responded by asserting that the officials maintain absolute integrity and cannot be influenced by external interests or expectations, characterising Egypt's allegations as baseless and warning that unfounded claims can endanger officials and their families.

The controversy centred on two disputed decisions in the second half. Egypt saw their goal nullified when video review identified a foul during the attacking build-up—a player stepping on an opponent's foot—triggering VAR intervention. Separately, contact between Salah and an Argentine player in the penalty area shortly after was classified as normal play rather than a foul. The FIFA official defended both rulings by explaining that VAR protocol mandates examination of the entire attacking possession phase, with fouls adjudicated whenever identified regardless of proximity to goal.