FIFA has provided an official explanation regarding two controversial VAR decisions during the World Cup round of 16 match between Egypt and Argentina. Egypt’s goal by Mostafa Zizo was disallowed after a VAR review found a foul by defender Marwan Attia on Argentina’s Lisandro Martínez during the buildup. The French referee Letexier agreed with the VAR assessment and canceled the goal. Later, Argentina’s winning goal by Enzo Fernández was upheld after VAR determined there was no foul on Mohamed Salah by Julián Álvarez inside the penalty area.

The report clarified that VAR reviews only four types of incidents: goals, penalties, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. The system checks every frame at 50 frames per second, while the match ball transmits tracking data 500 times per second, ensuring no incident is missed. In Egypt’s case, the foul in the buildup led to the goal being ruled out, while Argentina’s goal stood because the contact between Salah and Álvarez was deemed incidental.

The explanation aimed to address widespread confusion over why one goal was canceled and the other allowed to stand.