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FIFA Rubbishes Claims of Referee Bias in Argentina’s World Cup Victory Over Egypt

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FIFA has firmly dismissed allegations that referees favored Argentina during the country’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that match officials perform their duties with complete independence and professionalism.

The governing body responded after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and many football supporters queried several officiating decisions made during the closely contested encounter.

The controversy followed Argentina’s remarkable comeback victory after Egypt had established a commanding 2-0 lead before eventually losing 3-2.

Egyptian officials expressed dissatisfaction with a number of decisions made by the refereeing team, arguing that key moments in the match significantly influenced the final outcome.

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Among the issues raised were the disallowing of an Egyptian goal and the decision not to award a penalty after an incident involving Egyptian captain Mohamed Salah.

The disputed calls sparked intense debate across social media and among football analysts, with some supporters accusing the match officials of showing favoritism toward the defending champions.

Responding to the criticism, Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer, strongly defended the integrity of the refereeing team.Soccer

He emphasized that referees selected for the FIFA World Cup are appointed based on merit, competence, and professional performance, and that their decisions are made independently without outside influence.

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Collina also dismissed suggestions that FIFA leadership could interfere with officiating decisions, stressing that not even FIFA President Gianni Infantino has the authority to influence referees during matches.

According to him, maintaining the independence of match officials remains one of FIFA’s highest priorities in preserving the credibility of international football competitions.

While acknowledging that refereeing decisions often generate passionate debate, Collina warned that accusations questioning officials’ integrity without evidence could have serious consequences.

He noted that such allegations frequently expose referees and even their families to online abuse, threats, and harassment.

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FIFA reiterated that all referees participating in the World Cup undergo rigorous selection processes and continuous assessments to ensure they meet the highest international standards.

The organization maintained that the officiating throughout the tournament has been conducted according to established rules and procedures designed to guarantee fairness for all competing teams.

The Argentina-Egypt encounter has become one of the tournament’s most discussed matches, not only because of Argentina’s comeback victory but also due to the controversy surrounding several key decisions.

Despite the complaints, FIFA has given no indication that it intends to review or overturn any of the refereeing decisions made during the match.Soccer

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Football analysts note that disputes over officiating are common in major tournaments, particularly during high-stakes knockout matches where individual decisions can significantly influence the outcome.

Many observers have also pointed out that the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system has reduced, though not completely eliminated, disagreements over refereeing decisions.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup progresses, FIFA says it remains committed to ensuring that all matches are officiated fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

The governing body has also called on players, officials, and supporters to respect match officials while continuing to uphold the spirit of fair play throughout the tournament.

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Barcelona seal €50m deal with PSG for Ferran Torres

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Barcelona have reached a final agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for Ferran Torres in a deal which will see the Spain star head to Parc des Princes on a transfer worth €50 million.

The two clubs have been in talks for a while and the deal is now done, according to Fabrizio Romano. Torres has been absent from Barcelona training for the last two days and is now heading to Paris to complete his move.

Torres will sign a five-year contract with PSG and link up with Luis Enrique’s side after scoring the winning goal for Spain in the World Cup final.

The 26-year-old was into the final year of his contract at Barcelona but will now seek a new challenge in Ligue 1 with the French giants.

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Barcelona had reportedly been reluctant to extend Torres’s contract, as they would have had to pay an extra €8 million to Manchester City, while there’s been speculation the Spain star was happy to move on after feeling undervalued by Barca.

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Cameroon shock Morocco via penalties to reach WAFCON final

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Cameroon shocked hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties on Wednesday night to reach the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a tense semi-final ended goalless following extra time in Rabat.

The Indomitable Lionesses held their nerve at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium after 120 minutes without a goal.

Morocco had a golden chance to settle the game in the 118th minute when they were awarded a penalty, but Fatima Tagnaout failed to convert, leaving the hosts to pay a heavy price for the miss.

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Marie Ngah, Rose Bella and Myriam Nyadjou scored for Cameroon in the shootout, while Hanane Aït El Haj was Morocco’s only successful taker. Kenza Chapelle, Meryem Atiq and Sakina Ouzraoui all missed as Cameroon secured their fourth appearance in the WAFCON final.

Cameroon remained organised and continued to frustrate the hosts until the end of regulation time. Extra time followed, with the match seemingly heading for penalties before Morocco were handed their best opportunity two minutes from the end.

 

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Tagnaout took responsibility from the spot but could not beat the goalkeeper, sending the game into a shootout.

 

Morocco had won their previous two WAFCON semi-finals on penalties, against Nigeria in 2022 and Ghana in 2024, but their luck deserted them this time.

Aït El Haj converted Morocco’s first penalty before Chapelle missed the second. Ngah scored for Cameroon, although Grace Mendoua missed the Indomitable Lionesses’ next attempt. Bella then put Cameroon back in front, while Antique failed to convert Morocco’s third.

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Nyadjou scored Cameroon’s fourth penalty, leaving Ouzraoui with the task of keeping Morocco’s hopes alive. She missed, confirming Cameroon’s 3-1 victory in the shootout.

 

The win is a major boost for Cameroon, who had lost their previous three WAFCON penalty shootouts, including their 2018 semi-final defeat by Nigeria.

 

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The Indomitable Lionesses have now eliminated defending champions Nigeria and hosts Morocco in successive knockout rounds.

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Cristiano Ronaldo Sends Message To Messi Over Father’s Death

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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has offered a public message of support to Lionel Messi following the passing of Messi’s father and longtime manager, Jorge Messi.

The tragedy occurred after a prolonged illness, prompting the Inter Miami forward to share an emotional tribute honoring his father’s foundational role in his life and career.

In his message, the Argentine captain reflected on the deep bond they shared and expressed the profound grief of navigating life without his primary anchor:

“Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone. It hasn’t sunk in–or rather, I don’t want it to sink in. It’s so hard to imagine that I won’t see you again, that we won’t talk anymore.”

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Reaching out directly to offer solidarity, Ronaldo posted a supportive comment acknowledging their shared history and mutual respect:

“A huge hug to you and yours in these tough times, Leo. Much strength.”

Messi, in an emotional statement following his father’s death, revealed how Jorge’s deteriorating health had weighed heavily on him throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Dad, you kept asking me to play in one last World Cup… just days before it began was when your condition got worse,” Messi wrote.

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The Argentina captain said it was the first major tournament his father was unable to attend. Messi recalled being told by his mother that Jorge could recover sufficiently to travel, prompting him to make reaching the World Cup final a personal mission.

“After every match, I waited for and missed your message. That’s when I realised how serious the situation really was,” Messi wrote.

Messi said he continued hoping that Argentina could stay in the competition long enough to give his father the opportunity to watch him play.

Argentina eventually reached the final but were beaten 1-0 by Spain after extra time. Messi revealed that he desperately wanted to lift another World Cup trophy and take it home to his father.

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“We reached the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show you another one. I couldn’t,” Messi said.

‘My legs just couldn’t give me any more’

Messi also opened up about the physical difficulties he experienced during the tournament, saying he tried to push his body beyond its limits.

“My legs just couldn’t give me any more. This time I tried to push beyond what my body could handle, but I couldn’t. I never managed to feel physically right,” he wrote.

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Despite Argentina missing out on the title, Messi said his father had ultimately been right in encouraging him to play one more World Cup.

“We didn’t become champions Dad, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play in it… as you told me, always.”

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