Noakhali Youth Files Complaint Against FIFA President, Referee Over Alleged World Cup Bias

A football fan from Bangladesh's Noakhali district has drawn widespread attention after attempting to file a formal complaint with police against FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the referee of the controversial Argentina-Egypt FIFA World Cup match, alleging biased officiating and demanding financial compensation.

The complainant, 22-year-old Md Rakib from Mandartali village in Sadar Upazila, visited Sudharam Model Police Station on Wednesday night with a written complaint, accusing FIFA officials and the match referee of influencing the outcome of the Round of 16 fixture through unfair decisions.


According to the complaint, Rakib claimed that the match involved deliberate manipulation that deprived Egypt of a fair result and caused emotional distress to millions of football supporters around the world. He also alleged that the officiating decisions were part of a premeditated effort that affected the integrity of one of the tournament's most controversial matches.

Rakib stated that he was watching the Argentina-Egypt World Cup match on a giant screen at Karamulla Bazar along with numerous local residents when the disputed incidents unfolded. As a supporter of Egypt, he said he believed several refereeing decisions unfairly favored Argentina and ultimately changed the outcome of the match.


In his written complaint, Rakib named FIFA President Gianni Infantino, French referee François Letexier and between 15 and 20 other individuals as accused parties. He alleged that questionable penalty decisions, the disallowing of what he described as a legitimate Egyptian goal, and several controversial calls against Egyptian players and coaching staff demonstrated bias throughout the match.

The complaint further claimed that these decisions not only affected the sporting result but also caused significant emotional suffering to Egypt supporters, including himself.


As part of his demands, Rakib called for FIFA to provide compensation amounting to Tk 50 million (five crore taka) for what he described as the mental anguish suffered by supporters. He also urged that those responsible be held accountable under applicable international legal mechanisms.

Police officials confirmed that Rakib had visited the station and submitted his complaint but explained that the matter falls outside the jurisdiction of a local police station in Bangladesh.

Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Kamrul Islam of Sudharam Model Police Station said the young man was informed that the allegations concerned an international sporting event governed by global football authorities and therefore could not be processed as a criminal case by local law enforcement.


"We explained to him that this matter is beyond the legal jurisdiction of the police station," the officer said. "If he wishes to pursue the issue further, he may seek legal remedies through the appropriate international forums."

As a result, no formal case was registered by the police.


Speaking to local media on Thursday, Rakib said he remained determined to pursue legal action despite the police declining to accept the complaint.


He claimed that both he and several others who watched the match had been deeply affected by the officiating and believed justice should be served. According to Rakib, he now intends to take the matter before a court after failing to have the complaint registered at the police station.

He also indicated that he is considering organizing peaceful demonstrations, including human chains and other public awareness programs, to express dissatisfaction with what he believes were unfair refereeing decisions during the World Cup fixture.

The Argentina-Egypt match has generated considerable international debate over several controversial officiating decisions, with Egypt's football authorities also submitting an official complaint to FIFA requesting an investigation into the referee's performance.

While football's governing body has yet to announce any decision regarding those complaints, the incident in Noakhali highlights how passionately supporters around the world continue to react to contentious moments on football's biggest stage.

Although legal experts note that local law enforcement agencies have no authority over decisions taken by international sporting organizations, Rakib's unusual attempt to seek justice through the police reflects the intense emotions and public interest generated by the controversial World Cup encounter.