Is Gianni Infantino's referee suspension video real or fake?

LONDON: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been falsely portrayed in AI-generated videos circulating on social media that claim he announced the removal of French referee Francois Letexier and his officiating team from all remaining matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following Argentina's controversial 3-2 victory over Egypt.

The videos, which have spread widely on platforms including Instagram, feature what appears to be Infantino addressing the media and stating that Letexier had been dismissed after Argentina committed 13 fouls without receiving a single yellow card, while Egypt were shown several yellow cards and saw an assistant coach sent off during the last-16 encounter.

However, the videos are fabricated using artificial intelligence and do not reflect any official FIFA announcement.

There is no evidence that Infantino has made such remarks or that FIFA has removed Letexier or his officiating team from the tournament.

The misleading clips emerged after Egypt's Football Association lodged an official complaint with FIFA, requesting an investigation into Letexier's performance and alleging "double standards" in the officiating.

The federation also called for the French referee to be excluded from further matches, but FIFA has not publicly confirmed any disciplinary action against the match officials.

The viral videos have prompted confusion among football fans, with many mistakenly believing they depict a genuine FIFA statement.

As of Thursday, FIFA has not announced the removal or suspension of François Letexier or any member of his refereeing team from the remainder of the World Cup.