Egyptian player Mustafa Zico unleashed a furious tirade against FIFA on Instagram, accusing the organization of fixing their World Cup match against Argentina after Egypt's heartbreaking elimination.
Following Egypt's 3-2 defeat to the defending champions in a dramatic Round of 16 clash, Zico took to social media to vent his intense frustration. He directly targeted football's governing body, alleging widespread bias in favor of a "favorite team."
"You brought us all the way here just to cheat every other team? This tournament is fixed for your favorite and we all see it. God is sufficient for us," Zico posted. "Keep running your ‘favorite team’ World Cup. Nobody cares anymore because we already know who wins. Shame on FIFA."
The controversy erupted during a tense match where Egypt initially held a 2-0 lead. A goal scored by Zico himself in the second half was controversially overturned by VAR for an alleged foul earlier in the buildup, a decision that shifted the momentum. Argentina then mounted a rapid comeback, scoring three goals in the final fifteen minutes, including a stoppage-time winner. The Egyptian squad also felt that two late penalty appeals were ignored by the referee.
Adding to the outcry, Egypt's manager, Hossam Hassan, was booked for making an "X" gesture with his arms, which is FIFA's designated signal for reporting racist abuse. However, the referee did not stop the match or initiate the anti-racism protocol, further fueling anger within the Egyptian camp. The Egyptian FA has since lodged an official complaint regarding the French referee's decisions.
