Ethiopia has lodged an official protest with FIFA following its 2-0 defeat to Egypt in a World Cup qualifier on Friday September 5 2025 in Cairo. The Ethiopian Football Federation EFF alleges that Egyptian fans disrupted its national anthem before kickoff and used laser pointers against its players claiming the incidents compromised the fairness and integrity of the match. The controversy tied to Egypt’s two penalty goals has now put FIFA under pressure to weigh disciplinary action.
Laser pointers and anthem disruption
According to the EFF the problems began before the first whistle. During the pre match ceremony at Cairo International Stadium Ethiopia’s national anthem was drowned out by sustained whistling and jeers from sections of the crowd. In its official statement the federation said such behavior was an affront to the values FIFA claims to protect.
The federation insists that matters worsened during two crucial penalty moments in the first half. Ethiopian goalkeeper Abubakher Nura was repeatedly targeted by laser beams from the stands as he attempted to save the shots. Video clips circulating on social media appeared to show bright green lights tracking him as he prepared to defend the penalty kicks. Both spot kicks were successfully converted with Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush securing a 2-0 win for Egypt.
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EFF officials argue that this distraction directly affected their goalkeeper’s concentration and influenced the result. The complaint cites FIFA’s Stadium Safety and Security Regulations which ban the use of laser devices as well as Article 16 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code which holds home federations responsible for fan conduct.
What is at stake for Ethiopia and Egypt
Egypt’s victory pushed them to the brink of World Cup qualification leaving them needing only one more point from the remaining fixtures. For Ethiopia however the road became much more difficult. With only six points from their group and three matches left to play the Waliyas sit in fifth place and face an uphill climb if they hope to keep their qualification bid alive.
This makes the protest about more than fairness. Ethiopia’s federation has appealed to FIFA to immediately launch a formal investigation and hold the Egyptian Football Association accountable possibly through sanctions or corrective measures. “We urge FIFA to act with the urgency this matter deserves to guarantee safety dignity and respect in international football,” the EFF stated. It further called for FIFA to ensure host nations educate spectators on proper conduct during national anthems and high pressure matches.
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FIFA under pressure to respond
The protest has sparked sharply divided reactions. Supporters of Ethiopia argue that the alleged fan behavior crossed the line of sporting respect and directly impacted the outcome. Critics of the complaint however note that Egypt met its hosting obligations pointing to secure logistics and the absence of violence during the match. Egyptian football authorities have firmly denied all allegations of organized misconduct.
Some regional analysts note the heated atmosphere may also reflect wider strains in Egyptian Ethiopian relations although both nations typically maintain cordial footballing ties. Regardless the decision now rests with FIFA which must determine whether sanctions against Egypt or warnings for future matches are justified.
