Hacking Concerns Emerge as Argentine FA Questions World Cup Referee Decisions
Hacking worry for Argentine FA over – Argentina executed a stunning late resurgence to triumph over Egypt 3-2 in their World Cup last-16 encounter, defying expectations after trailing 2-0. The win secured their place in the quarter-finals, setting up a critical clash against Switzerland. Yet, the victory sparked a new controversy as the Argentine Football Association (AFA) raised alarms about potential cyber intrusion.
Unusual Emails Point to Security Breach
Following the match, emails allegedly sent from the AFA’s official account were circulated to journalists, criticizing the referee decisions that favored Argentina. These messages, which claimed the result was not fair, were later linked to a suspected hacking incident. The AFA noted that a group of hackers with Egyptian origins might have accessed their systems to disseminate the messages.
“We want to inform you that we have detected the possible sending of emails from one of our institutional accounts that were not generated or authorised by our team.” – AFA statement
The association urged the public to scrutinize any unusual messages received from their account, especially those containing links or requests for personal information. They emphasized the need for heightened vigilance as investigations into the breach continue.
Egypt’s Protest Over Referee Allegations
Egypt’s head coach, Hossam Hassan, expressed frustration after the match, accusing the tournament officials of showing bias toward Argentina. “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running,” Hassan remarked, hinting at perceived pressures on the outcome.
“The world champion received support at every level. There seem to be pressures from the Argentina side on this outcome.” – Hossam Hassan
The Egyptian team had taken a 2-0 lead in Atlanta, with goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico. However, Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi turned the tide in the final stages, with the latter scoring the equalizer just five minutes before the end. Enzo Fernandez sealed the comeback in injury time, showcasing Argentina’s resilience.
