Pierluigi Collina Breaks Silence on Egypt-Argentina Officiating Controversy

FIFA's head of refereeing defended the decisions made during the Egypt-Argentina match, insisting the officiating department operates independently and rejecting claims of outside influence.

Collina responds after criticism of Egypt-Argentina

The controversy surrounding the officiating in the World Cup match between Egypt and Argentina has prompted a response from FIFA's highest-ranking refereeing official.

Pierluigi Collina publicly defended the work of the match officials, insisting that every decision was made independently and in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

Speaking through FIFA's official channels, the former Italian referee stressed that match officials always act in good faith and are committed to making the best possible decisions, just like players and coaches strive to perform at their highest level.

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FIFA rejects claims of outside influence

One of Collina's strongest messages was aimed at those questioning the integrity of FIFA's refereeing department.

The Italian categorically denied that referees receive instructions or pressure from anyone outside the officiating structure, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

According to Collina, the refereeing department works with complete autonomy, while Infantino's role has always been to support officials without interfering in their decisions.

He also warned that baseless accusations can have serious consequences, exposing referees and even their families to threats and abuse.

Why Egypt's goal was disallowed

Collina also addressed one of the most debated moments of the match: the VAR review that led to Egypt's second goal being overturned.

He explained that every goal automatically triggers a review of the attacking possession phase, allowing VAR officials to identify fouls committed earlier in the sequence if they directly influence the scoring opportunity.

In this particular case, FIFA determined that Marwan Attia committed a foul by stepping on Lisandro Martínez before the goal.

Because the referee had not seen the infringement on the field, the VAR recommended an on-field review, which ultimately resulted in the goal being disallowed.

The Salah-Álvarez incident also receives an explanation

Collina also defended the decision not to penalize the challenge involving Mohamed Salah and Julián Álvarez before Argentina found the net.

According to FIFA's refereeing chief, the contact was judged to be a normal football action because the defender played the ball first before the players came together.

Had the VAR believed a foul had occurred during the attacking phase, Collina explained, the referee would have been instructed to review the play.

With his comments, Collina sought to reinforce confidence in FIFA's officiating process while attempting to bring closure to one of the most controversial refereeing performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.