Collina Defends VAR and Referee Integrity Amidst Egyptian Complaints

FIFA’s Head of Refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has strongly defended the integrity of match officials and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the ongoing World Cup. His comments come in response to complaints from the Egyptian Football Federation, which raised doubts about the impartiality of VAR decisions in their match against Argentina.

Collina stated unequivocally that the refereeing collective operates with complete independence and is not swayed by any external pressure, including from FIFA President Gianni Infantino. He emphasized that accusations questioning the integrity of FIFA referees are unfounded and unacceptable in football.

“Nobody can question the integrity of the referees,” Collina asserted in an interview with inside.fifa.com. “We are not influenced by anyone, not even the FIFA President. He has always shown his full support, trusting us to work with complete independence. Referees make honest decisions and, like players and coaches, always strive to do their best.”

Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|—|—|
| Official | Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s Director of Refereeing and Chairman of the Referees Committee |
| Context | Egyptian Football Federation’s doubts about VAR impartiality in Argentina vs. Egypt match |
| Collina’s Stance | Referees are independent; decisions are not influenced by external parties |
| VAR Incidents | Discussed a disallowed Egyptian goal and a non-penalty call involving Mohamed Salah |

Disallowed Goal and VAR Intervention

One of the contentious moments highlighted by Egypt involved a disallowed goal. The VAR review led to French referee François Letexier disallowing a goal for Egypt after deeming a prior foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martínez. Collina explained the VAR protocol, stating that a foul is a foul, regardless of whether it was immediately apparent on the pitch.

“If the referee did not see it on the field, the VAR can intervene,” Collina explained. He further clarified that after every goal, VAR reviews the preceding play. If a foul is detected that influenced the goal, a pitchside review is recommended. Collina stressed that there is no predefined limit for the distance to the goal or the time elapsed between the incident and the goal for VAR to intervene.

Penalty Decision and Subjectivity

Collina also addressed the incident where contact occurred between Argentina’s Julián Álvarez and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, which preceded Argentina’s winning goal. Collina clarified that the referee and VAR considered it a normal contact. He stated, “Treading on an opponent’s foot is a foul, while a defender who touches the ball first and then makes normal contact with the ball does not commit a foul.”

Acknowledging Subjectivity

While Collina admitted that refereeing decisions inherently involve an element of subjectivity, he expressed overall satisfaction with the application of principles throughout the tournament. “We are satisfied with the way this principle has been applied throughout the tournament. In general, we are satisfied. However, with so many matches played in a relatively short period, it is normal for some things not to go as expected.” He added that when issues arise, the team is motivated to work harder to be fully prepared for upcoming matches.

Addressing Unfounded Accusations

Collina firmly stated that while constructive debate is a part of football, unfounded accusations have no place. He highlighted the dangerous consequences of such claims, which can lead to threats against referees and their families. “When this happens, it can provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right,” he concluded.

The clear stance from Collina aims to reassure all participating nations and stakeholders about the fairness and impartiality of refereeing at the World Cup, emphasizing that decisions are made based on the Laws of the Game and VAR protocols, free from external influence.

Source: MARCA Futbol – https://www.marca.com/futbol/mundial/2026/07/09/collina-quejas-egipto-dejamos-influir-nadie-infantino.html

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