‘Egypt was robbed’: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani joins VAR row over Argentina’s dramatic World Cup return
L-R: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani; Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Argentina’s Lionel Messi (AP Photo) New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani became the latest high-profile figure to back Egypt after its controversial 3-2 World Cup defeat by Argentina in the round of 16, claiming the African side had been “robbed” in a remark that quickly went viral amid a growing officiating debate.Mamdani’s comments came a day after Lionel Messi inspired defending champions Argentina to one of the most dramatic comebacks in World Cup history, overcoming a 2-0 deficit in the final 15 minutes to knock out Mohamed Salah’s Egypt and book a place in the quarter-finals.
Mamdani backs Egypt with viral ‘robbed’ remark.
During the launch of New York City’s “Next Stop: Better Buses, Faster Service” initiative, Mamdani made an unexpected reference to the World Cup controversy while highlighting how faster bus service would benefit commuters.“Now, when you take the bus to work, it adds up quickly,” Mamdani said. “In six months, you’ll spend 24 hours less on the bus. After a year, you’ll save more than two days of commuting time.”He continued, “It means breakfast with the family. It means having time to argue about balls and strikes at your kid’s Little League game. It means going home to bed.”Then came a turn that drew loud cheers from the audience.“It means agreeing with my friends that Egypt was robbed yesterday. Most of all, it means that time has come back to New Yorkers who don’t have nearly enough of it.”The mayor’s remark immediately resonated with supporters who believe Egypt were denied a fair result, although it does nothing to change the official result, which put Argentina ahead after Messi inspired a stunning late turnaround.Mamdani’s comments also echoed a growing chorus of criticism from Egypt’s players, coaches and fans, many of whom claimed key refereeing decisions favored the reigning world champions.
VAR controversy fuels ‘rigged’ claims after Argentina return
The controversy centered around several flashpoints that dramatically changed the dynamic of the match.Early in the second half, Egypt thought they had doubled their advantage when Mostafa Ziko found the net after an impressive team save. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the referees ruled that Marwan Attia had fouled Lisandro Martínez earlier in the set-up, leading to the goal being overturned.Many analysts and supporters argued that the foul occurred too far in front of the goal for VAR to intervene, making the decision one of the biggest talking points of the tournament.Shortly after, Egypt still managed to take a 2-0 lead, but Argentina hit back spectacularly. Messi sparked a revival with a 79th-minute assist from Cristiano Romero before Argentina scored twice more to complete an extraordinary 3-2 stoppage time win.Another controversial moment came when Julián Álvarez escaped without a penalty following a challenge on Salah, adding further fuel to accusations that key calls went in Argentina’s favour.As a result, Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan, several players and the Egyptian Football Association openly questioned the celebration, with some describing the tournament as “rigged” in Argentina’s favor.The Egyptian Football Association said it “cannot remain silent” over what it described as inconsistent and unfair refereeing, insisting that several key decisions directly affected the outcome of the match.FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina rejected suggestions of bias, defending VAR’s intervention and stressing that “a foul is a foul” no matter how far before the goal it occurs. He also warned that unsubstantiated allegations against referees could lead to threats and abuse.
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