Internet erupts after Argentina's win over Egypt

Argentina's dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 has sparked widespread debate on social media, with fans, former players and pundits questioning several refereeing decisions during the match.

While the defending champions advanced to the quarter-finals after staging a comeback, much of the post-match discussion centred on the performance of French referee François Letexier and the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Critics claimed Egypt had a goal disallowed following a VAR review for a foul in the build-up, while similar incidents involving Argentina were not reviewed. Others also pointed to an alleged foul on Egypt captain Mohamed Salah that was not penalised.

The controversy prompted thousands of reactions on X, where many users accused the officials of inconsistent decision-making and alleged the reigning champions received favourable treatment.

Former players and television pundits also described the officiating as inconsistent, arguing that several contentious calls overshadowed an otherwise entertaining knockout fixture.