Theatre, not football — commentary on Egypt vs Argentina
The controversy that followed Egypt’s 3-2 loss to Argentina in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 did not stop with the objections of the Egyptian coaching staff; it extended to global coaches, refereeing experts, analysts, and even stars from outside football, in a rare scene where referee decisions and VAR technology became the headline of a match described as one of the most controversial in the tournament. With rising criticism, it seemed that the discussion was no longer about Argentina’s dramatic comeback, but about the consistency of VAR technology, after many felt that refereeing decisions changed the course of the…

