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FIFA president Gianni Infantino drew mixed reactions after appearing with Egypt's flag shortly after the country's dramatic World Cup elimination.
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FIFA president
Gianni Infantino found himself at the centre of fresh debate following
Egypt's dramatic World Cup exit after being seen holding the country's national flag while attending another knockout match.
Egypt were eliminated in the round of 16 after surrendering a 2-0 lead in a 3-2 defeat to Argentina in Atlanta.
Shortly after that match ended, Infantino travelled to Vancouver to watch the final round-of-16 fixture between Switzerland and Colombia.
Gesture attracts widespread attention
During his appearance in the stands, Infantino was photographed holding an Egyptian flag while greeting supporters.
The images quickly circulated on social media, attracting significant attention given the tense atmosphere surrounding Egypt's elimination.
According to reports, the flag had been handed to Infantino by supporters in the stadium. Nevertheless, many fans interpreted the gesture differently because of the ongoing controversy surrounding the match against Argentina.
Egypt still angry over officiating
The incident comes as criticism continues to grow inside Egyptian football following the defeat.
Head coach Hossam Hassan has publicly accused FIFA of favouring Argentina through refereeing decisions, alleging that keeping Lionel Messi and the defending champions in the tournament served commercial interests.
Players, supporters and sections of the Egyptian media have also questioned several decisions made during the match, adding to the frustration surrounding the team's elimination.
FIFA already under scrutiny
The latest controversy follows another high-profile FIFA decision earlier in the tournament.
The governing body recently overturned Folarin Balogun's suspension before the United States' round-of-16 match against Belgium, a decision that generated widespread debate after reports that Donald Trump had personally contacted Infantino.
Belgium ultimately defeated the United States 4-1 despite Balogun's availability.
Meanwhile, Switzerland secured the final place in the World Cup quarter-finals by beating Colombia on penalties after a goalless draw, setting up a last-eight meeting with Argentina.