Egypt
Egypt will formally protest to FIFA about the performance of Paraguay referee Enrique Caceres whose decisions they feel prejudiced the outcome of their World Cup game against hosts Russia in St Petersburg on Tuesday.
“We want an investigation into the performance of the whole refereeing team,” Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida told Reuters on Friday.
Egypt lost the game 3-1 to suffer a second defeat at the tournament and an early elimination in their first World Cup appearance since 1990.
Egypt’s complaints
Abo Rida, who is also a FIFA Council member, said Egypt felt fullback Ahmed Fathi was pushed in the process of attempting to clear the ball two minutes into the second half and resultantly steered it into his own net to give Russia the lead.
He also felt there was a legitimate penalty appeal in the 78th minute for striker Marwan Mohsen, bundled over by Russia defender Ilya Kutepov. By that stage, Egypt were 3-1 down.
“The referee should have used VAR (the Video Assistant Referee system) to check and award the penalty. They should have also seen that Fathi had been pushed.’‘
[Explainer] VAR makes major wins at 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia
“It is our right to complain and ask for an investigation,” he said.
Egypt play their final Group A game against Saudi Arabia in a contest between two eliminated teams in Volgograd on Monday.
“I know people in Egypt are not happy with our results but it is our first tournament in 28 years. We lacked experience,” Abo Rida added.
REUTERS
02:19
Egypt's pyramid of Cheops explored in virtual reality in Paris
02:00
Sunrise in Gaza as truce between Israel and Islamic Jihad holds
Go to video
AFCON qualifiers postponed to March 2023
01:58
South Africa: Ramaphosa vows equal pay for Bayana Bayana after AFCON win
Go to video
Egypt, Nigeria with other developing nations seek to overcome energy, currency crises
Go to video
An Egyptian human rights lawyer is freed after nearly 4 years in prison