Egyptian Businessman Naguib Sawiris Criticizes FIFA Over World Cup Match Officiating

Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris expressed sarcastic criticism regarding the refereeing performance in the 2026 World Cup match between Egypt and Argentina.

Sharing a viral video on his personal account, Sawiris highlighted a series of violent tackles and intense physical confrontations by Argentine players against the Egyptian team. He pointed out that the refereeing crew failed to address these incidents according to the required legal standards and did not provide adequate protection to the Egyptian players.

Through his well-known sarcastic tone, the billionaire conveyed strong dissatisfaction with the officiating level in the game, directly targeting the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). He commented: "Scenes of farce with sound and image.. FIFA Zapata."

Additionally, Sawiris responded to sharp remarks made by former Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, who also criticized the controversial refereeing decisions in the match. Supporting Scholes’s statement, Sawiris said: "You used the most delicate description when you said: We were robbed."

The match itself sparked significant refereeing controversy and widespread protests from Egyptian and Arab fans, amid accusations that the refereeing favored Lionel Messi’s teammates over the Egyptian national team.