Pierluigi Collina defends refereeing decisions after the Argentina–Egypt match controversy
The clash between Argentina and Egypt at the 2026 World Cup continues to spark discussions, mainly due to several disputed refereeing decisions. In light of the numerous reactions to certain game incidents, Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s head of refereeing and a major figure in world football, felt it was necessary to clarify the choices made by the officiating team.
The former Italian referee, regarded as an international authority in officiating, analyzed the most debated situations from this match. According to him, the decisions made by the main referee were in line with football rules and could not be seen as errors that influenced the final outcome.
The first incident discussed involves the disallowed goal for Egypt after an offensive phase that raised many questions. After reviewing the footage, Pierluigi Collina believes that the intervention of an Egyptian player on an Argentine defender was indeed a foul before the goal was scored.
“Egyptian Marwan Attia clearly stepped on the foot of Argentina’s Lisandro Martínez before the goal. The referee was right to disallow it.”
For Collina, this contact had a direct impact on the play and justified the goal’s cancellation. He believes the referee’s decision, with the help of video assistance if necessary, aligned with the current interpretation of the laws of the game. This explanation aims to address criticisms claiming Egypt was unfairly denied a significant opportunity.
The other situation analyzed involves a duel between Mohamed Salah and Julián Álvarez in a critical area of the pitch. Several observers felt a foul could have been called in favor of the Egyptian attacker, but Pierluigi Collina has a different view.
“The duel between Mohamed Salah and Julián Álvarez was normal contact during the course of play and did not constitute a foul. The referee made the right call by allowing the game to continue.”
According to FIFA’s head of refereeing, this type of contact is part of the many challenges that occur in a high-level match. For him, not all physical contacts automatically represent a foul, especially when players are competing for the ball fairly.
🚨🎙️ Pierluigi Collina (FIFA Head of Referees):
• “Egypt’s Marwan Attia clearly stepped on the foot of Argentina’s Lisandro Martínez before the goal. The referee was correct to disallow it.” ✅
• “The challenge between Mohamed Salah and Julián Álvarez was normal contact… pic.twitter.com/R2pbM53DfM
— MC (@CrewsMat10) July 9, 2026
This intervention from Pierluigi Collina comes at a time when refereeing decisions are under increasing scrutiny during major international competitions. The use of VAR, intended to reduce clear errors, remains a hot topic whenever contentious actions arise.
By providing his analysis, Collina emphasizes the importance of interpreting the rules and highlights that refereeing cannot be judged solely by the final result of a match. For him, the decisions made during the Argentina–Egypt match were justified and in line with the principles applied by international referees.
