FIFA World Cup 2026 refereeing controversy fuels petition and Deschamps criticism

A petition posted on the site argentinaout.com has gathered more than six million signatures demanding that Argentina be expelled from the 2026 World Cup after its dramatic 3‑2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16. The campaign accuses French referee François Letexier of bias toward the Argentine side and calls on FIFA to intervene. Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni rejected the allegations, saying video‑assistant referee (VAR) technology makes any manipulation impossible. Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan and former players also criticised the officiating, particularly the disallowed goal by Mustafa Zico and a non‑call on Mohamed Salah.

FIFA’s Refereeing Committee chairman Pierre Luigi Colina defended the officials, stating that the referees are “world‑class” and that Letexier’s removal from the remaining matches reflects a proper review process. In a separate incident, Colina responded to French coach Didier Deschamps, who questioned the competence of Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton after France’s 2‑0 semifinal loss to Spain. Colina reiterated confidence in the refereeing standards for the tournament, which has faced repeated scrutiny since its start.