08 Jul 2026 10:46:33
I don’t think that’s a foul on Salah but if anyone does not think that is dodgy the second goal Egypt being disallowed with the way VAR has been used in this World Cup give your head a wobble.
The foul on Kane 100% more a foul and VAR did nothing.
FIFA is a disgrace and full of corruption.
For me the World Cup started bad with the water breaks in both halves turning into quarters to suit the USA TV companies.
Then with have the utter disgrace of the US player being allowed to play after a red card that should have been a three game suspension.
08 Jul 2026 12:36:36
Agree, regards FIFA grino, but Egypt have only themselves to blame, mate - they were coasting and should have seen the game out imo - another couple of minutes or so at 2-0 & the Argies were spent!
I’ve enjoyed quite a few of the games I’ve watched, but I’ve hated the hydration / commercial breaks and the fragmented KO times have taken the shine off for me as well!
Not a patch on the World Cups of the 70s & 80s.
Mexico, W Germany, Argentina, Spain & Mexico again were genuine footballing World Cups imo.
08 Jul 2026 12:54:06
It's not just Egypt, though, is it? There have been many things that have made me question FIFA and football in general recently. It's that corrupt, it's starting to become almost scripted....
08 Jul 2026 13:22:54
Would VAR have even brought it back had Egypt not scored? That, I'd really like to know.
Either none of them are fouls, or all of them are fouls. It's the inconsistency that's infuriating. A foul for accidentally stepping on somebody's toe is ridiculous in my book. Salah wasn't fouled, but neither was Martinez.
They're all far too soft for me, but that's a whole different conversation these days.
Should have been 3-3 and gone to extra time. That's the truth of it. I still think Argentina would have done the business; they've not been playing great, but, as champions do, they turned it on when it mattered most.
08 Jul 2026 13:35:23
Grino, I agree that the "foul" on Salah before the Argentinian goal is debatable and can be seen either way. But the overall bias by the ref. in favor of Argentina is really something you can't look past. It's really pathetic how FIFA has bent the rules and looked the other way in this tournament. The way Messi has been protected is really a sham. His studs up tackle earlier in the tournament? Clear red card, but no card produced.
Where was VAR? The funniest thing is that the corruption is all out in the open. So plain to see. A phone call from the White House is all that is necessary to rescind a red card.
The whole tournament has been turned into a sham. I'm looking forward to the final whistle of the tournament final game. I want to see how the pumpkin head will share presentation duties with the head of Canada and Mexico (they better be also there).
08 Jul 2026 13:50:57
To me Egypt's goal was disallowed to try and keep Messi, biggest name left in it, in the tournament. No way was it a clear and obvious mistake by ref, and the attack had the whole length of the field to go.
Really, would it surprise anybody given the money in it nowadays?
08 Jul 2026 13:57:11
Word in the US is that both Infantino and Trump will present the Cup.
08 Jul 2026 15:41:10
The whole staging of the World Cup in winter to allow Qatar to host it was all a bit ridiculous.
The organisation has been riddled with corruption for decades, well, as long as I can remember anyway.
08 Jul 2026 16:16:20
Personally, I think the VAR was right to give the foul cos Martinez had his foot stepped on visibly. Now, it was not intentional, but we all know intent does not matter. Just ask Folarin Balogun.
Also, Egypt did score a second goal after that, and had the game in hand, so I don't get the OTT reaction.
Cos, we know that big/host teams like Argentina and U.S get the breaks (they aren't the only ones, btw) does not mean Egypt was hard done by.
Egypt was in control and blew it. Same way, Senegal were in control and bottled it cockily to Belgium. That's all I see here.
08 Jul 2026 16:47:32
Let's face it, FIFA want Messi in as long as they can. He always had help throughout his career, from taking growth hormones, to getting help from every referee in most games. Great player but not the GOAT for me.
08 Jul 2026 16:51:05
OliRed with the most delulu take. ? If you think any of those decisions that went against Egypt would have gone against Argentina had the roles been reversed, you're living in a different planet, mate. There's some political bias towards Argentina and some of us know why. FIFA favour them for this reason.
08 Jul 2026 18:53:08
What is the political bias KmanLFC92?
08 Jul 2026 21:10:34
Money mate, Messi is the footballing face of FIFA, if he goes deep in the tournament, the more the money flows, sponsorships etc.