2026 World Cup Qualifier: Ethiopia Lodges Complaint To FIFA Against Egypt

2026 World Cup Qualifier: Ethiopia Lodges Complaint To FIFA Against Egypt

Sampson Adedeji

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has formally filed a complaint to FIFA following their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Egypt on Friday, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

According to the statement released by the EFF, the complaint centers on incidents that allegedly took place during the game, which they believe compromised the fairness and integrity of the contest.

The federation claims that Ethiopian players were subjected to laser pointers from sections of the Egyptian crowd throughout the match, which they argue disrupted concentration and performance.

In addition, the EFF accused the Egyptian fans of showing disrespect during Ethiopia’s national anthem, creating what they described as a hostile and unsportsmanlike atmosphere.

The EFF confirmed that all evidence of the alleged incidents has been submitted to FIFA, and the matter is now under review by the world football governing body’s Disciplinary Committee.

Egypt won the match, but the EFF insists that the off-field issues must not go unaddressed.

They stressed that respect for fair play, safety, and mutual recognition of national symbols are fundamental principles that must be upheld in international football.

As of now, FIFA has yet to make an official statement on the case, but a decision is expected in the coming weeks as part of the qualification campaign’s disciplinary assessments.