FIFA chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina says “nobody can question the integrity” of the World Cup match officials following “unfounded allegations” made after Egypt’s 3-2 loss to Argentina.
On Tuesday, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) asked Fifa to kick the officials in charge of their World Cup last-16 defeat out of the tournament.
The EFA demanded an investigation into the “double standards” of officiating after two second-half calls on fouls went against them, helping Argentina overturn a 2-0 deficit late in the game.
“Of course, constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport,” Collina said.
“Nobody can question the integrity of the Fifa World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right.”
After the game manager Hossam Hassan said Egypt had been “treated unfairly” and “suffered injustice”.
“Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running,” he said.
Collina added: “Equally, nobody can claim that Fifa refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the Fifa president [Gianni Infantino].
“He [Infantino] has always shown his full support for Fifa Team One while trusting us to work with complete independence. Match officials make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always try to do their best.”
FIFA has also been widely criticised after its decision not to uphold Folarin Balogun’s automatic ban for a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina, with European football’s governing body Uefa calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”.
US president Donald Trump said he asked Fifa to review the decision.