Egypt coach Hossam Hassan didn't hold back after his team's heartbreaking World Cup loss to Argentina, suggesting that some of the refereeing decisions in Tuesday's match were a byproduct of FIFA wanting Lionel Messi to "stay in the running."
Messi helped the reigning world champion battle back from 2-0 down in the closing minutes as Argentina scored three goals in a manic 13-minute spell - including a stoppage-time winner - for one of the tournament's most improbable comeback victories.
At 1-0 up, Egypt had a goal called back for a foul that occurred at the other end of the pitch before Mostafa Zico's disallowed strike.
The Pharaohs were also furious at the lack of VAR intervention in multiple incidents inside the Argentina penalty area in the latter stages of the match, including one that took place before Argentina went the other way and Enzo Fernandez scored the Albiceleste's 92nd-minute decider.
"We looked better than the reigning champions - better in everything - but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it," Hassan told reporters, including Mark Ogden of ESPN.
"Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running."
He added: "I want to put it in beautiful words and say 'hard luck,' but we have been treated unfairly and it has been an injustice."
Hassan said he told referee Francois Letexier during the match that the French official seemed to have "something to hide."
"If somebody is trying to hide something, they often fail to hide it," the coach said. "Anyway, when I am finished, I am not going to watch another game of this tournament."
A member of his staff was sent off in stoppage time amid remonstrations from the Egyptian bench.
Zico, who eventually did score Egypt's second goal in the 67th minute after his earlier strike was chalked off, echoed his manager's sentiments.
"Hard luck. The match was in our hands and slipped away at the last moment," the forward said. "Strange things happened on the pitch."
The 29-year-old rejected suggestions that Egypt thought the job was done after his goal, however.
"It wasn't in our calculations that the match was already over. We know very well that we are playing against the world champions, and even before the match started, we knew we were playing a strong team, a team that is a title favorite," Zico said.
"But, I mean, if they had won by their own effort, it would have made a big difference to us."
