Somali referee Omar Artan has entered the debate following the Egypt-Argentina match in the 2026 World Cup, after the decisions of French referee Francois Leixês sparked widespread anger among Egyptian fans.
The Egyptian national team was eliminated from the tournament in the round of 16 after losing to Argentina 3-2, in a match that witnessed an exciting scenario, after the "Pharaohs" took the lead with two goals to nil before the Argentine team managed to turn the result around during the last minutes.
Egyptian criticism focused on the performance of the French referee, as team officials believed that some decisions affected the course of the match, including the cancellation of a goal for the Egyptians and the failure to award a penalty kick at the crucial moment, which prompted the Egyptian Football Association to demand an investigation by the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA).
Amid this controversy, Somali referee Omar Artan reposted a video on his TikTok account showing Egyptian national team coach Hossam Hassan objecting to Leticker's decisions, in a move that some considered an expression of his sympathy for the Egyptian position.
Omar Artan knows very well what it means to feel wronged, after being one of the first controversial cases in the 2026 World Cup.
After being selected by FIFA as one of the referees participating in the tournament, Artan was met with refusal by the US authorities to grant him an entry visa. He was detained for hours at an airport before a decision was made to prevent him from entering the country, due to visa restrictions and procedures.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino did not intervene in the matter, merely affirming the host country's right to determine entry procedures into its territory.
The controversy surrounding the Egypt-Argentina match was not limited to the Arab world, as the decisions of the French referee received widespread attention, with comments from media outlets and football figures who felt that the Egyptian national team was subjected to controversial refereeing decisions.
Despite the exit, the Egyptian national team succeeded in leaving a strong mark during the tournament, after delivering a remarkable performance and coming close to reaching the quarter-finals before the Argentinian team decided the match in the final moments.
