Argentina vs Egypt ‘rigged’ claim World Cup fans as outrage clear | Football | Sport

Argentina pulled off a miraculous World Cup comeback against Egypt to earn a place in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 victory. But some supporters have claimed that Lionel Messi and co’s victory was ‘rigged’ after Egypt were denied a goal by VAR.

The reigning World Cup champions found themselves trailing 1-0 and Mohamed Salah threaded the ball through to team-mate Mostka Ziko to hand the Pharaohs a stunning 2-0 advantage. Following frenzied Egyptian celebrations, referee Francois Letexier was summoned by VAR to review a possible infringement in the build-up. After considerable protest from the Argentine squad, La Albiceleste defender Lisandro Martinez was deemed to have been unlawfully brought down in the build-up. The offence, though, occurred more than 20 seconds before Ziko fired past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Egypt and Ziko eventually grabbed their second goal six minutes later, but it followed a torrent of hostile reactions online, particularly on X.

“This tournament is rigged. Corruption at display, robbing Egypt of the goal,” one supporter posted. “Rigged like always,” another commented.

“The World Cup is rigged for Messi,” one user posted on social media. Another added: “This was the most rigged game I’ve ever seen in my life. It should have been 3-3 minimum.”

“So what I’ve learned from watching World Cup is that Messi is the LeBron of soccer. Refs just hand him everything. Even though it’s clearly rigged nothing will happen,” posted another viewer.

Shortly afterwards, Messi unleashed a stunning volley to draw Argentina level at 2-2, completing a remarkable late fightback.

Had Ziko’s opener stood, Egypt would have held on to their advantage.

Enzo Fernandez then headed home deep into injury time to condemn Egypt to a 3-2 defeat in what many are already calling one of the most extraordinary World Cup comebacks in living memory.

Seasoned football writers raised serious concerns over the use of VAR in disallowing Ziko’s initial strike, both in terms of the strict interpretation of the rules and whether the technology was warranted in such a situation.

“Egypt disallowed goal: It’s allowed under VAR rules, but tech in football was never meant for that – to wind back the play so long to review a softer tackle at the other end of the pitch, not directly in the final phase of the counterattack,” posted Sky Sports reporter Rob Harris.

“Egypt’s disallowed goal was completely against how this tournament has been refereed,” wrote BBC reporter Dale Johnson. “You can’t have a light touch where you don’t give fouls for minimal contact and then rule out a goal through VAR for a very minimal hold of the shirt.

“If VAR had gone any further back in that Egyptian move Tutankhamun would be involved. How far do you go back? Probably right decision but what a pity, what a goal that would have been. 80 yards, majestic move, precise passing, would have been one of the goals of the tournament,” joked reporter Henry Winter. Argentina will meet the victor of Colombia-Switzerland in the quarter-finals.