After Egypt filed an official complaint over the biased refereeing in its 3–2 collapse against Argentina — a disallowed Egyptian goal and a late penalty appeal that was not given — FIFA has now reportedly appointed an all-Argentine officiating crew for France–Morocco.

The referee: Facundo Tello.

His assistants: Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade.

Fourth official: Darío Herrera.

Reserve assistant: Cristian Navarro.

All Argentine!

France is one of Argentina’s great rivals, a possible obstacle to another Messi-era coronation, and a side that could still shape Argentina’s path to the trophy.

So why would FIFA invite this suspicion at all?

Egypt’s coach has one explanation:

“What happened was unfair, they disallowed a goal, I don't know why. Everything is a matter of marketing, they want Messi to stay.”

“There are things that happen off the field, Argentina has support off the field for marketing purposes."

So why appoint officials from Argentina to a match involving a major Argentine rival days after Argentina benefited from one of the tournament’s most controversial refereeing performances? Why create even the appearance that one national team’s interests are being protected? Why should fans trust a process that FIFA refuses to make transparent?

The public can no longer believe the game is fair. And that is entirely FIFA’s fault.

Right now, FIFA is giving millions of people every reason to ask whether the WORLD CUP is being officiated or managed.