Argentine Football Association Email Accounts Hacked Post-Egypt Match
Argentina's Football Association (AFA) is investigating a suspected cyberattack after journalists received emails from AFA accounts demanding "justice" for Egypt following a contentious World Cup match.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is investigating a potential breach of its internal systems after journalists began receiving unusual emails from AFA accounts following the team's dramatic 3-2 World Cup victory over Egypt. The incident occurred shortly after Argentina's comeback win in the Round of 16.
Multiple reporters, including some from The Athletic, reported receiving emails originating from AFA addresses. The subject line read "System compromised: Unfair ruling," and the body of the message demanded "justice for Egypt and coach Hossam Hassan," stating that "this robbery will not go unpunished."
The match itself was marked by controversy, particularly concerning two refereeing decisions. An Egyptian goal was disallowed after a VAR review, and a late incident in Argentina's penalty area was also a point of contention. Following the game, Egyptian players and their coach expressed strong dissatisfaction with the officiating.
AFA confirmed it is investigating the matter and has asked recipients to disregard the emails, stating, "Our accounts may have been subjected to unauthorized access." The association is working to determine the scope and origin of the intrusion and implement security measures. A spokesperson later indicated that the issue was resolved.