I’m boycotting this (and the last two) World Cup, so I didn’t watch this game nor any others. I have read many comments about the games, though. Nearly everyone said this was one of the best officiated matches of the tournament, or at least the most evenly officiated. What I’ve read from other matches is that the refs have been dogshit for nearly every match. I’ve read how many key things have been missed, both for European teams and for African and South American teams. I’ve read about how refs let Paraguay get away with extremely dirty play against both France and Germany. I’ve read about how the scorer for Egypt should have been given a yellow in this game for taking off his shirt, but it wasn’t given by the ref that you think was biased towards Argentina. I’ve read how the three hosts have all gone out this tournament without any on-field controversy (this does not mean there wasn’t ludicrous controversy for Balogun).
Where have I said the ref was biased towards Argentina? I asked if there was inconsistency in their and others matches, which you appear to be confirming, is that correct?
Conscious or unconscious bias, nobody outside the ref knows, but to pretend it doesn’t exist in football and it doesn’t favour the bigger team more often by any statical analysis I have seen is laughable.
The ref plays an incredibly important role in any football match, they are often the deciding factor. I am not expecting them to be perfect as thats impossible, but they can be a lot better than the shit they usually are.
I can’t confirm anything, since I am only going by what others are saying. I’ve read how the refs in other games (not Argentina’s since I haven’t read anything about their other games) are basically ignoring fouls and penalties to let things flow, regardless of who it benefits. I haven’t read how this match was consistent with how the same ref called his other matches, only that his calls this match were even and consistent between these two teams.
You could maybe point out that this match was reffed inconsistently with the rest of the tournament, since the ref did call fouls and penalties; but the consensus is that this match was how the rest of the tournament SHOULD have been called.
This ignores the main thrust of the article, which was, how far can VAR wind back the clock. They even gave examples of other games and other starting fouls/balls out of play. Nice job.
I disagree with you on what the main thrust was, but if that is the main thrust, then main thrust is also nonsense. The rule does not say “less than 17 seconds before the score.” It says from the beginning of the attacking phase of play. There are numerous examples of VAR going back 30 seconds or more to overturn a goal. It sucks for the fans of the attacking team, but that has been the rule for awhile now. And it has been applied much more egregiously than this one in past games.
I think thats the problem with your entire argument, its the “well thats the way it is”, or “it was worse in x game”, like thats any sort of valid excuse. It falls apart even quicker when you see it applied inconsistently. Sometimes they wind it back, sometimes they do not, you even say this.
Its hardly difficult to enforce an X number of touches since the last foul/out of play except where violent or otherwise dangerous play is involved, those are actually quite tightly defined, if not always enforced consistently. The current limitless rollback that we have for some instances is completely farcical.
The whole issue with VAR is its allowed to be inconsistent, its become a complete parody of what it was meant to be.
I would consider awarding penalties that aren’t penalties and disallowing valid goals is the very thing I’m complaining about. Hell, even the missing yellow card you mentioned could have been pivotal another night. You even calling that out makes it very clear you don’t think its consistent as i agree, its normally an instant yellow.
Letting the game flow but getting these big decisions wrong means the former is worth fuck all.
That link is one of the most bullshit, biased “analyses” I’ve ever read. It shows multiple pictures of the the Egyptian player 1) holding onto the arm, 2) stepping on the foot, 3) then grabbing the shirt and pulling to the ground the Argentinian attacker… and then he says it probably wasn’t a foul because they both had to put their feet somewhere?? He also said it shouldn’t count as the start of the attacking phase because the Argentinian players didn’t run hard enough to get back on defense?? That is not what the rules say. Nearly every other thing I’ve read about that exact play said the right call was made. Watching the video is even more clear this was a foul, since ignoring the foot stomp you can very clearly watch the Egyptian player drag the Argentinian player to the ground by his shirt.
This whole story is about Egyptians feeling like the ref was biased against them. If the ref didn’t give Egypt a yellow that they deserved then it kinda discounts the claims made in this video.
First time watching football? Inconsistency is normal in refereeing, both in a single game and especially across multiple games involving different referees.
Do you want to know who else was inconsistent in this game? The players. Egypt defended well enough for 79 minutes and then crumbled. Messi had a shocker (by his standards) for a while and missed a penalty, before turning the game around late in the second half.
Referees are human just like footballers and can and will have good games and bad games and good moments and bad moments within a game.
First time watching football? Teams have a certain amount of energy, drive, ambition based on momentum within a match. The ref is very capable of stifling that with their decisions, cards, etc. Its a normal part of football. Its also beyond basic football that chances are not endless, the same opportunities to score do not exist ad infinitum. One lucky break might be all you get all match, so many fucking matches finish 1-0, if that gets ruled out, well fuck your team.
Also, its always been shit, so live with it, is an absolutely awful take. It also ignores that the bigger team gets the majority of bad decisions their way.
The fact that your immediate thought was “FiFa cOnSpIRaCy!!!” when you saw an example of refereeing inconsistency within a tournament suggests that yes, this was your first time watching football.
I said to friends before the world cup even started or had even been drawn, that FIFA 100% wanted Messi in another final as hes a money printer for them.
They have had by far the easiest route on paper to the final I can see, and only have the Swiss and either England or Norway left.
I lost all faith for draws being anything other than fixed a long time ago, and its not just the FIFA ones.
You said this in direct response to a video titled ‘Four minute compilation of referee favoring Argentine over Egypt in World Cup’. I’m not sure if you have short-term memory loss, or are just trying to bluff your way out after realising how embarrassing your original comment was, but it’s still right there for everyone to see.
Oh so it doesn’t say its a conspiracy to fix this match, you made that up? Are the “everyone” in the room with you right now?
Honestly, you read what you wanted to read, NOT what was actuality written. I do not believe the draw was anything but pushed in a favourable direction, but show me the EXACT words where I said this match was fixed? Draw yes, match fuck off.
Again, I fucking didnt, you didnt read what was written, did you?
I’m boycotting this (and the last two) World Cup, so I didn’t watch this game nor any others. I have read many comments about the games, though. Nearly everyone said this was one of the best officiated matches of the tournament, or at least the most evenly officiated. What I’ve read from other matches is that the refs have been dogshit for nearly every match. I’ve read how many key things have been missed, both for European teams and for African and South American teams. I’ve read about how refs let Paraguay get away with extremely dirty play against both France and Germany. I’ve read about how the scorer for Egypt should have been given a yellow in this game for taking off his shirt, but it wasn’t given by the ref that you think was biased towards Argentina. I’ve read how the three hosts have all gone out this tournament without any on-field controversy (this does not mean there wasn’t ludicrous controversy for Balogun).
Where have I said the ref was biased towards Argentina? I asked if there was inconsistency in their and others matches, which you appear to be confirming, is that correct?
Conscious or unconscious bias, nobody outside the ref knows, but to pretend it doesn’t exist in football and it doesn’t favour the bigger team more often by any statical analysis I have seen is laughable.
The ref plays an incredibly important role in any football match, they are often the deciding factor. I am not expecting them to be perfect as thats impossible, but they can be a lot better than the shit they usually are.
I can’t confirm anything, since I am only going by what others are saying. I’ve read how the refs in other games (not Argentina’s since I haven’t read anything about their other games) are basically ignoring fouls and penalties to let things flow, regardless of who it benefits. I haven’t read how this match was consistent with how the same ref called his other matches, only that his calls this match were even and consistent between these two teams.
You could maybe point out that this match was reffed inconsistently with the rest of the tournament, since the ref did call fouls and penalties; but the consensus is that this match was how the rest of the tournament SHOULD have been called.
This ignores the main thrust of the article, which was, how far can VAR wind back the clock. They even gave examples of other games and other starting fouls/balls out of play. Nice job.
I disagree with you on what the main thrust was, but if that is the main thrust, then main thrust is also nonsense. The rule does not say “less than 17 seconds before the score.” It says from the beginning of the attacking phase of play. There are numerous examples of VAR going back 30 seconds or more to overturn a goal. It sucks for the fans of the attacking team, but that has been the rule for awhile now. And it has been applied much more egregiously than this one in past games.
I think thats the problem with your entire argument, its the “well thats the way it is”, or “it was worse in x game”, like thats any sort of valid excuse. It falls apart even quicker when you see it applied inconsistently. Sometimes they wind it back, sometimes they do not, you even say this.
Its hardly difficult to enforce an X number of touches since the last foul/out of play except where violent or otherwise dangerous play is involved, those are actually quite tightly defined, if not always enforced consistently. The current limitless rollback that we have for some instances is completely farcical.
The whole issue with VAR is its allowed to be inconsistent, its become a complete parody of what it was meant to be.
Consistency isn’t consistency when “everywhere” isn’t calling it that way for the big decisions: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7430665/2026/07/08/egypt-argentina-world-cup-var-goal-ziko/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.wFA.oB5U.dlT-PAMmQZCv
I would consider awarding penalties that aren’t penalties and disallowing valid goals is the very thing I’m complaining about. Hell, even the missing yellow card you mentioned could have been pivotal another night. You even calling that out makes it very clear you don’t think its consistent as i agree, its normally an instant yellow.
Letting the game flow but getting these big decisions wrong means the former is worth fuck all.
That link is one of the most bullshit, biased “analyses” I’ve ever read. It shows multiple pictures of the the Egyptian player 1) holding onto the arm, 2) stepping on the foot, 3) then grabbing the shirt and pulling to the ground the Argentinian attacker… and then he says it probably wasn’t a foul because they both had to put their feet somewhere?? He also said it shouldn’t count as the start of the attacking phase because the Argentinian players didn’t run hard enough to get back on defense?? That is not what the rules say. Nearly every other thing I’ve read about that exact play said the right call was made. Watching the video is even more clear this was a foul, since ignoring the foot stomp you can very clearly watch the Egyptian player drag the Argentinian player to the ground by his shirt.
This whole story is about Egyptians feeling like the ref was biased against them. If the ref didn’t give Egypt a yellow that they deserved then it kinda discounts the claims made in this video.
First time watching football? Inconsistency is normal in refereeing, both in a single game and especially across multiple games involving different referees.
Do you want to know who else was inconsistent in this game? The players. Egypt defended well enough for 79 minutes and then crumbled. Messi had a shocker (by his standards) for a while and missed a penalty, before turning the game around late in the second half.
Referees are human just like footballers and can and will have good games and bad games and good moments and bad moments within a game.
First time watching football? Teams have a certain amount of energy, drive, ambition based on momentum within a match. The ref is very capable of stifling that with their decisions, cards, etc. Its a normal part of football. Its also beyond basic football that chances are not endless, the same opportunities to score do not exist ad infinitum. One lucky break might be all you get all match, so many fucking matches finish 1-0, if that gets ruled out, well fuck your team.
Also, its always been shit, so live with it, is an absolutely awful take. It also ignores that the bigger team gets the majority of bad decisions their way.
The fact that your immediate thought was “FiFa cOnSpIRaCy!!!” when you saw an example of refereeing inconsistency within a tournament suggests that yes, this was your first time watching football.
Where have I said its a conspiracy? Please show me the direct quote.
You said this in direct response to a video titled ‘Four minute compilation of referee favoring Argentine over Egypt in World Cup’. I’m not sure if you have short-term memory loss, or are just trying to bluff your way out after realising how embarrassing your original comment was, but it’s still right there for everyone to see.
Oh so it doesn’t say its a conspiracy to fix this match, you made that up? Are the “everyone” in the room with you right now?
Honestly, you read what you wanted to read, NOT what was actuality written. I do not believe the draw was anything but pushed in a favourable direction, but show me the EXACT words where I said this match was fixed? Draw yes, match fuck off.
Again, I fucking didnt, you didnt read what was written, did you?
So we’re going with this one?