Days after security guard Gavin Plumb was arrested at his modest Essex flat in 2023, TV presenter Holly Willoughby quit her 14-year role on ITV’s flagship show This Morning, telling fans: ‘I have to make this decision for me and my family.’

The significance of her shock decision and its timing only emerged later – namely that police had just uncovered a plot by Plumb to break into the mother of three’s house to kidnap, rape and kill her.

‘Getting her has been my ultimate fantasy for way too long,’ Plumb confessed in an internet chat room. ‘I’m now at the point that fantasy isn’t enough any more. I want the real thing.’

It’s now almost two years to the day that Plumb was sentenced to life imprisonment for his vile scheme after he was found guilty of offences including soliciting murder.

Of course, it’s unlikely that anniversary has anything to do with Ms Willoughby’s imminent return to the daytime sofa after a three-year hiatus.

As disclosed by this paper at the end of June, the 45-year-old is relaunching her career on a This Morning-style show that is already filming for a four-week run on YouTube. But in a chilling coincidence, the Daily Mail can reveal her comeback may happen as Plumb is allowed to leave HMP Long Lartin, the category A jail where he is being held, for the first time. Because the 39-year-old has suffered a recent bereavement, that of his beloved mother Carol, and may be given permission to say his goodbyes.

The significance and timing of Holly’s shock decision to step down from hosting This Morning only emerged later – namely that police had just uncovered and informed her of Plumb’s plot

Carol had stuck by her son through thick and thin. But having been diagnosed with cancer, the former hospital healthcare assistant suddenly died during treatment earlier this year – with ‘mummy’s boy’ Plumb only learning what had happened when he phoned home to talk to her.

News of her death is said to have left Plumb devastated and having to seek support from staff at the jail. A family friend told the Daily Mail: ‘His stepdad told him by phone after he rang home to speak with Carol. He went to pieces. But they’ve got a really good team at Long Lartin who are looking after him.

‘Of course he loved his mum. He phoned her up every week.’

A prison source added: ‘He has taken the death very badly. He hasn’t thrown any strops or smashed up his cell – but there has been lots of sobbing.’

While Mrs Plumb died aged 64 in March, because an inquest may need to be held into her death no cremation or funeral has yet taken place. But discussions have been held over whether Plumb might be allowed to leave prison to mark her death in some capacity.

‘The prison authorities have said they’ll let Gavin out to see her one last time in the chapel of rest,’ a family friend told the Daily Mail.

But he has been told he will not be able to attend a ‘celebration of her life’ with other relatives.

‘That’s a prison decision,’ the friend added – although the Daily Mail understands that no final ruling, which would be based on assessments of the risks Plumb poses, has in fact been made on whether to allow him to leave the prison at all.

Lest anyone forget, Plumb’s plot, which he masterminded over the internet, was particularly depraved.

Holly and her husband Dan Baldwin, 50, were to be incapacitated by a gang at their London home using chloroform, then she was to be taken to a ‘dungeon-style room’ and repeatedly raped before her throat was slit and her body dumped in a lake.

When Plumb was arrested in 2023 he had more than 10,000 images of Ms Willoughby and other celebrities, as well as deep-fake pornography featuring her.

As disclosed by this paper, Holly is relaunching her career with a This Morning-style show on YouTube. But, eerily, her comeback may coincide with Plumb’s release

A family friend told the Daily Mail that Plumb is being ‘looked after’ by ‘a really good team’ at HMP Long Lartin, following his mother’s passing

Earlier this month, Plumb found himself back in the headlines after a tabloid newspaper reported that a search of his cell had unearthed a stash of pictures of Ms Willoughby that he had somehow managed to tear out of magazines and hide beneath his mattress.

Obese Plumb has since told family members that the claim is ‘rubbish’ and that he intends to instruct a solicitor to seek legal redress for what was alleged.

Nevertheless, a prison source said: ‘I think most of the people who’ve had any sort of interaction with Plumb are convinced that he will remain a danger to women for a long time.

‘He is completely unrepentant about what he put Holly Willoughby through. I think he’s very much still living the fantasy – it’s like he’s living two lives.’

Given the nature of his crime, he is also unlikely to find much sympathy from either fellow inmates or staff. The prison source added: ‘Plumb is a pretty repulsive character. He has serious weight problems. Staff have warned him about it but he doesn’t take any notice. He goes through packets of biscuits and crisps without even thinking – and then he has his meals on top of that. I think it’s all tied in with his mental state and self-loathing.’

As well as stuffing his face with junk food, Plumb’s life in HMP Long Lartin – a prison criticised in an official inspection earlier this year for cells that lacked hot water, heating and basic sanitation – also includes moaning about the poor prison food and trying to keep on the right side of some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals. The same inspection found that the rate of assaults among inmates in the Worcestershire jail was the second highest in the country for a prison of its type.

Among those held alongside him are gunman Thomas Cashman, murderer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, and Stephen Wright, a serial killer known as the Suffolk Strangler who is serving life for the murders of six women.

While there were recent claims that he and Wright, 67, had struck up a friendship and were known as ‘the odd couple’, a family friend this week told the Daily Mail: ‘Gavin has only met him once, they’re not friends.’

A prison source said: ‘Plumb spends a lot of time in his cell playing video games or watching TV. It’s hardly surprising because there are some very scary cons in Long Lartin.

‘While he’s a big bloke and will occasionally try and act tough, he’s the sort of individual who will start crying if he’s threatened. ‘He’s got few friends and is seen as a bit of a joke.’

And he added: ‘He’s not exactly a difficult prisoner but he’s a complete fantasist.’

A former friend said: ‘Apparently, he’s depressed and wants to get out. He’s not doing very well. It’s all in the letters he writes. He is playing the victim. He’s really good at it.

‘He just feels like he’s been set up, despite the fact there’s so much evidence and he’s trying to say everyone has placed it on him. But no one believes him.’

Sources inside the prison are convinced that Plumb will remain a danger to women for a long time, adding that he is still unrepentant about what he put Holly through

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Plumb always insisted that, despite the evidence against him, he never actually posed a threat to Willoughby. He claimed that his discussions about what he wanted to do to her were just ‘online’ chat, saying: ‘There’s a massive difference between what’s online and real life.’

British police were only alerted to Plumb’s plans after he unknowingly shared them with an undercover US cop posing as another kidnap enthusiast in a dark web chatroom. The US officer printed a fake plane ticket to convince Plumb he was travelling to the UK. Having got his address, he alerted the FBI, which contacted Scotland Yard. Essex Police, fearing an imminent threat to Ms Willoughby, arrested Plumb on the day they were warned about him.

Plumb denied soliciting murder and inciting kidnap and rape between 2021 and 2023, but was found guilty following an eight-day trial. ‘I have no doubt this was all considerably more than a fantasy to you,’ the judge told him.

‘You always intended to carry out your plan to kidnap, rape and kill Willoughby if you could find “the right crew” to do it.’

During the hearing, the jury learned that Plumb had a string of previous convictions for sexually motivated crimes against women.

Aged 19 he targeted two uniformed Ryanair workers travelling from Bishop’s Stortford to nearby Stansted Airport. He handed one a note that read: ‘I have got a gun. Do what I say.’ Arrested soon after, he was found to have a black toy handgun and three pieces of rope on him.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted kidnap and received a 12-month suspended sentence.

In December 2008, Plumb was in trouble again, this time after targeting two 16-year-old girls working at Woolworths, where he was a shop assistant. Working in a stockroom, he pulled a knife on them and then taped the hands of one of them behind her back

As he prepared to gag her mouth, the second girl ran off. The alarm was raised and Plumb was arrested. In June 2009, he pleaded guilty to two charges of false imprisonment and one of battery and was jailed for 32 months.

Plumb’s problems with women began at an early age.

The hearing revealed Plumb had a string of previous convictions for sexually motivated crimes against women, which friends think stems from his sexual frustration after putting on weight 

Raised in Harlow, Essex, by the age of 13 he had started to put on so much weight that he noticed girls would ‘friendzone’ him rather than fancy him.

Those who know him believe his behaviour around women has its roots in the sexual frustration he experienced from then on.

His one serious relationship, with the mother of his two children, began at the age of 18 and was marred by allegations of emotional and physical abuse that saw police called on numerous occasions.

It ended when he was jailed for the first time – after which Plumb found himself banned from seeing his children and spending increasing amounts of time at home, behind his computer.

As he did so his weight ballooned further, heading towards an all-time high of 35-and-a-half stone.

Gastric band surgery in 2018 helped but he remained reliant on his mother and stepfather for day-to-day help.

They would come over to help clean his flat and his mother was so worried he might have a heart attack that she had a set of keys – ‘just in case’.

After he was jailed over the Willoughby plot, they continued to make weekly visits to see him in prison, although the family friend said his closest relations had no illusions about what he had done.

‘His mum and his step-dad loved him but they were disgusted by what he did,’ he said. ‘Carol was fuming with him. She said to him: “You should not have done what you did. You’re in the right place.” Yes, she loved him as a son. But she never forgave him for this. She said he deserved what he got.

‘It wasn’t down to Carol or his stepdad or his brothers to tell Gavin how to run his life. If he got caught, he got his just deserts – if you break the law the law will catch up with you.’

Something he will have no shortage of time to ponder in the coming years.

The Angel Inn in Gilling West, near Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire closed in May as its owner decided to retire.

But just two months later it will reopen its doors on Wednesday (July 8), promising a cosy and friendly atmosphere.

Jess Powell, 25, who manages the pub alongside her dad Mike Pollard, said: “We’re giving the restaurant a refresh – the upholstery has been done, there are new tables, new furnishings and the roof has been repaired.

“We were working until 3am last week because we wanted to get the venue ready.

(Image: THE ANGEL INN)

“We’re excited to create a cosy, welcoming pub where you can enjoy great food, drinks, good times and a friendly atmosphere.”

Pictures give a sneak preview of how the venue will look after opening.

One user commented: “Looking forward to having a pub back in the village and popping in to say hello to everyone as all those little interactions were lost when the doors closed.

“I’m aware hospitality can be hard, but I hope the locals support the pub and it becomes a hive of village life again.”

The pub’s kitchen will be open 12pm-3pm and 5pm-8.30pm, with the management promising “pub classics”, including pies, burgers, and fish and chips.

The dog-friendly pub will be open Tuesday to Sunday with the bar open from 3pm on Tuesday and midday the rest of the week. Full closing times can be found on The New Angel Inn’s Facebook page.

Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue blew India away with pace at Trent Bridge as England condemned the world champions to a record 125-run T20 defeat.

The hosts posted 201-7 on the back of 70 from Phil Salt, with the entire India team only just besting the opener’s score as they were rounded up for 76.

Archer and Tongue were too hot to handle, both seamers pushing the speed gun past 90mph to scatter the power-packed Indian top order in a match-winning new-ball burst.

Tongue claimed career-best figures of 4-28 and Archer took 3-29, with the innings wrapped up 8.2 overs ahead of time.

It was an emphatic result in Nottingham – eclipsing India’s previous worst result in T20s by a massive 45-run margin – and handing the hosts a 2-0 lead with two to play in the Vitality Series.

India started a difficult day perfectly, winning the toss before Arshdeep Singh delivered a near-perfect maiden to Salt. It was a red herring, Jos Buttler picking up the pace with 36 of the first 43 runs.

Prince Yadav halted his charge with an inswinging yorker that crushed Buttler’s boot and parted his stumps, then added Harry Brook to keep England in check before Salt finally broke the shackles.

Entrenched on 17 from 19 balls at the start of the ninth over, he crashed 53 off the next 25 as a loose over from Varun Chakravarthy eased him into his work.

He launched a long-hop for six then hit three straight fours to catch up on his ponderous start. Harshit Rana struck back with consecutive wickets in the 12th over, Jacob Bethell unable to recreate his match-winning turn from Old Trafford as he hit a skier into the leg side and Tom Banton steering his first ball straight to deep third.

Salt did not let it disrupt his flow, passing 50 in 36 balls and adding two more sixes before slashing Axar Patel to backward point.

By then Curran (41no) had picked up the baton and Will Jacks kept the pressure on by flaying two of his first four deliveries into the stands. Two runs off the last ball guided England past the 200 mark.

It proved more than enough as the tourists wilted under a hostile examination. Archer set the tone with a rapid first over from the Stuart Broad End, hurrying 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with a 90mph bouncer and smiling when the next ball was sprayed for six over gully.

Two of Tongue’s first three balls also went the distance but from there it was all England. Abhishek Sharma slashed to deep point, Sooryavanshi gloved behind as he took on Archer’s next bouncer and Ishan Kishan picked out Bethell with a flat pull.

By the time Archer removed Shreyas Iyer and Axar, it was game over at 52 for five from five overs. India were sprawling, Tilak Varma stumped off Jacks before Tongue picked up his third courtesy of Shivam Dube’s thin nick.

Miscommunication between Buttler and Curran denied the Nottinghamshire man his fourth victim, but a sterling catch from Banton ensured he did not have to wait long as he added Harshit to his collection.

Adil Rashid finished things off with two late wickets as India only just beat their lowest T20 total of 74.

But each time he found himself down, Djokovic found a way. In the dark, he found light – literally, as the floodlights beat down on the battered surface – while there were times he had to go hunting at great heights, gazing into the high heavens in disbelief at fortuitous net cords or in sheer disbelief at how good he was getting from the man across the net.

Prince Harry appeared to criticise the High Court judge who ruled against him in his failed case against the Daily Mail.

In an extraordinary 374-word statement the Duke of Sussex referenced Mr Justice Nicklin’s previous work for newspapers just hours after he delivered a landmark judgement in favour of this newspaper.

Released jointly with Baroness Lawrence, Harry’s statement said the ruling felt like there was ‘one rule for newspapers and another for claimants’.

He argued that Mr Justice Nicklin’s findings, which rejected every one of his allegations, were a significant departure from previous cases brought against other newspapers, which the judge had represented in the past including the Daily Mirror.

Harry’s statement read: ‘This judgment represents a complete reversal of the position which previous judges have taken in relation to the hacking claims successfully brought against both News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers, who were represented by, at the time, the judge who made this decision.

‘Generic findings about various private investigators that were held by the courts in these parallel claims to have carried out unlawful activity at the very same time in relation to similar stories and well-known individuals have been wholly ignored.

‘The fact that this court has chosen to dismiss them represents an inconsistency which is hard to understand or reconcile with common sense, or the evidence heard in the courtroom itself.’

In a swipe at the judgement, Harry described it as an ‘obvious whitewash’ going on to argue that it represented a ‘shocking’ and ‘totally unwarranted’ exoneration of the Daily Mail and its journalists.

He claimed: ‘It is a complete and obvious whitewash, but sadly not altogether unexpected.

‘However, the lengths to which the court has gone to exonerate the Mail is as shocking as it is totally unwarranted.

‘When the court says there is not sufficient evidence of wrongdoing, despite the documents showing otherwise, then one does wonder how justice was ever going to be achieved.’

Although, more than 40 journalists from the Daily Mail entered the witness stand to defend themselves, after being accused of illegal information gathering, Harry still insists he has been wronged.

He added: ‘While the claimants presented evidence, Mail journalists simply gave denials and the court chose uncritically to believe them, even in the face of inconsistencies, contradictions and blatant untruths that were obvious to neutral observers in court when compared to the documents.

‘We presented to the court evidence which we believed was compelling at the time and remains so now.’

Over the course of 46 days, the newspaper robustly defended accusations of bugging and the blagging of private records to obtain news stories.

In his judgement, Justice Nicklin consistently ruled journalists at the Daily Mail were credible witnesses who gave forthright accounts during their evidence.

In his executive summary of his judgement, Mr Justice Nicklin said: ‘The Claimants failed to prove their pleaded allegations of UIG (unlawful information gathering).’

Adding: ‘In broad terms, Associated called journalist witnesses who gave lawful explanations for the sourcing of the disputed articles and incidents.

‘The Court accepted their evidence, including their denials of UIG.’

In his ruling, Justice Nicklin also dismissed allegations made against senior executives at the newspaper who had been wrongly accused of lying at the Leveson Inquiry into Press ethics in 2011.

Harry’s statement concluded by saying: ‘We would like to thank our legal team for all their hard work and all the witnesses who were brave enough to come forward in the pursuit of justice.’

Moments after the High Court ruled against him, Harry was at Chatham House to host the Invictus Games for wounded, injured, and sick military service personnel and veterans.

Attempting to appear relaxed before cameras, he cracked a joke at the event.

He told the guests they were one of the few in the UK with air conditioning, ‘so I can understand why every seat is full’.

Speaking to delegates, he said: ‘Every one of us believes that those who have served their country, and in particular those whose lives have been changed by that service, deserve more than our gratitude.

‘They deserve opportunity. The chance to redefine one’s purpose and identity. They deserve to truly feel our admiration and respect. And they deserve every chance to build the life they choose beyond military service. That’s what the Invictus community is all about.’

By DAILY MAIL COMMENT

Published: 23:38 BST, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 23:39 BST, 7 July 2026

There were early concerns for Djokovic when he pulled up and immediately called for the trainer after injuring his lower left leg at 4-4 in the first set.

He had to see his service game through before he could receive treatment and, after holding to love, grimaced through a massage before returning to play.

After missing two set points at 5-4 on the Canadian’s serve, Djokovic started moving freely again and the pair engaged in an thrilling 22-point tie-break that saw them take turns at missing multiple set points, until Auger-Aliassime gifted his opponent the opener with a skewed volley.

A lapse in concentration saw Djokovic drop serve towards the end of the second set and Auger-Aliassime levelled the tie – at which point the roof was closed, despite both players protesting against it.

There was little to separate the pair as Auger-Aliassime made it through a marathon 13-minute service game that saw seven deuces, but Djokovic broke to love for a 4-2 lead and maintained that advantage to wrap up the third set.

Djokovic won eight straight points to claim the opening two games of the fourth – causing Auger-Aliassime to smash his racquet on his chair – but momentum suddenly shifted and the Canadian replied with a run of three games.

Auger-Aliassime clinched the resulting tie-break to force a decider- to the delight of the crowd on a rowdy Centre Court.

With both players staying strong on serve in the fifth, a match tie-break became inevitable. When it arrived, Djokovic whipped up support, pointing to his ear as he asserted his dominance to seal his place in his 15th Wimbledon semi-final.

By MIKE MERRITT

Published: 18:30 BST, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 21:47 BST, 7 July 2026

The Princess of Wales was given an insight to a real-life rescue as she scaled Ben Nevis last week.

While Catherine was around the 4,413ft summit, a blind military veteran further down was needing help.

Ex-soldier John Banfield, 87, had successfully climbed Ben Nevis on Armed Forces Day last month to raise funds for the charity Blind Veterans UK.

Guided by RAF veteran Gary Thomas, he reached the summit in five-and-a-half hours but at Halfway Lochan, Mr Banfield, from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, became exhausted and two members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) got him off the hill using their all-terrain vehicle.

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A smiling Kate at the top of Ben Nevis

Former soldier John Banfield, 87, scales Ben Nevis on Armed Forces Day

Deputy team leader Astie Cameron said the Princess of Wales was ‘absolutely amazing’ 

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Meanwhile, Catherine, accompanied by two other members of Lochaber MRT, was more than 2,000ft higher up listening to the drama below.

Deputy team leader Astie Cameron said: ‘She would have been aware of the rescue because of the chatter on the team’s radios. 

‘She was absolutely amazing. She did the walk in just under five hours which is quick – especially after what she has gone through with cancer it was an incredible achievement.’

Catherine’s Three Peak challenge involved climbing the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours.

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The 44-year-old had called it a ‘chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back’.

Photos from the Welsh summit of Yr Wyddfa released on social media at the weekend came with a caption: ‘A huge thank you to everybody who has supported The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.’

The princess paid tribute to the charity as ‘a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life changing for so many people’.

Egypt manager Hossam Hassan has furiously accused FIFA of rigging the World Cup after a string of controversial refereeing decisions went against his side during Argentina’s dramatic late comeback in Atlanta on Tuesday.

Argentina, who were 2-0 down with 12 minutes to play plus stoppage time, looked destined to exit the tournament before late goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez resulted in a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory.

When Fernandez’s game-winning header rippled the net in the 93rd minute, chaos broke out on the touchline as Egypt’s furious staff remonstrated with referee Francois Letexier, leading to goalkeeper coach Saafan El-Sagheer being shown a red card and manager Hassan being dragged away from a confrontation with the official.

The Pharaohs were furious that the referee – and also VAR – had not awarded Egypt a penalty moments before Argentina’s winner, as Mohamed Salah was brought down inside the box after having his foot clipped by Julian Alvarez.

Earlier in the second half, Egypt themselves had a goal disallowed by VAR due to a foul in the build-up. Throughout the game, a string of decisions went in favour of Argentina, who have now progressed to the quarter-finals as they bid to retain their crown in North America.

After the match, Hassan could not contain his outrage and furiously accused world football’s governing body FIFA of rigging the tournament so that all-time great Messi could remain in the competition for ‘marketing reasons’.

An Egypt coach was sent off after the bench reacted furiously to Enzo Fernandez’s winning goal for Argentina, clearly upset with the number of decisions that went against them

‘We were better, but football is unfair,’ the heartbroken coach said in his post-match interview. 

‘It could be a matter of marketing, they could want to make a World Cup with the champion of the last World Cup, they want Messi to exist (in the tournament).

‘I thank my players very much. To all the Egyptians, the Arabs, the Africans, you can work hard, it’s what you have to do, but sometimes there are other factors that make you struggle. 

‘I wish we could be happier with the loss, but with a severe loss like today I say to them (my players) be upset. We wish we could be happier. Thank God for everything but football is different from what happens in the stadium when we are playing against the world champions. 

‘There is support from all directions for the world champions. Support and marketing.’

He added later: ‘Why isn’t there any fairness in sport? In football? I do not want to try to put it nicely here with beautiful wording. We have been treated unfairly today. We have suffered injustice.’ 

Hassan went on to claim that the result was influenced by ‘internal’ and ‘external’ factors and that Egypt had objected to the selection of Letexier as referee.

Egypt were furious at having a goal disallowed when leading 1-0 during the game, and later showed similar expressions of anger and disbelief after Salah was penalised for a soft foul that would otherwise have seen him charge through on goal for a one-on-one opportunity.

As the touchline bust-up at the end of the game broke out following Fernandez’s winner, Hassan made a gesture that is typically used to draw a referee’s attention to an accusation of racism, holding his hands aloft in an X shape.

It is unclear if Hassan was alleging a specific incident had occurred or whether he was protesting more generally against injustice and the controversial decisions that had gone in favour of Argentina.

Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a dramatic late comeback as the World Cup holders won 3-2

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Egypt’s star man Mohamed Salah cut a miserable figure as he arrived back at Egypt’s hotel

Messi, who is widely regarded as the greatest footballer to have graced the game and steered Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, is spending the last years of his glittering career in the USA as a veteran for David Beckham’s Inter Miami. 

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has already drawn controversy over the World Cup’s integrity after his institution agreed to suspend USA forward Folarin Balogun’s red card following a phone call with Donald Trump, has been targeted with accusations of bias by fans amid Argentina’s World Cup success during his tenure.

The Swiss football chief, who has struck a friendship with Trump after awarding the President with FIFA’s inaugural peace prize in 2025, raised eyebrows when he joyfully congratulated Argentina following their narrow last-32 win over Cape Verde – and immediately backpedalled by insisting he is neutral.

Ahead of Switzerland’s round of 16 clash with Colombia in Vancouver, Infantino raised an Egyptian flag aloft in a possible attempt to rubbish accusations of favouritism towards Argentina after their late comeback. 

It is important to note that, despite claims online, no evidence has emerged to support allegations or corruption or match manipulation against FIFA or Infantino.

The first big decision made by referee Letexier during Egypt’s defeat was to award Argentina a penalty during the first half, although the Pharaohs should have few complaints about the spot-kick, which was ultimately missed by Messi. 

In what was another thrilling round of 16 clash at the World Cup, Yasser Ibrahim put Egypt ahead after just 15 minutes, before Mostafa Ziko doubled their advantage midway through the second half.

Ziko added fuel to the fire after the game by describing Letexier as an ‘unjust’ referee.

‘Referee, not fair,’ he said in tears during his post-match interview. ‘Unjust, unjust referee. An unjust person. An injustice that is so clear.

‘He’s wasting the effort of an entire nation. Since the beginning of the game, we were leaving the game winning 2-0 against Argentina. But the cup has already been given.’

Gianni Infantino lifted an Egyptian flag aloft in Vancouver shortly after the country’s elimination

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Ziko, who netted Egypt’s second goal, congratulated Argentina on already winning the World Cup, claiming that the holders have been shown favouritism by ‘unjust’ referees

‘I apologise to (the Egypt fans). We wanted to make them happy today. We didn’t know how to do that. But, by God, it’s not in our hands; it’s in the hands of the referee. The cup has already been decided.

‘Congratulations to Argentina on the World Cup. Congratulations. You don’t need anything else.’

Shortly after the game in Atlanta, FIFA confirmed that all officials for France’s quarter-final against Morocco will be Argentinian – the first time this tournament that all match referees will be from the same country, sparking more allegations of favouritism. 

Some fans noted in the fallout of Egypt’s defeat that Argentina have been awarded a remarkable eight penalties in their last 12 World Cup matches, with spot-kicks proving crucial to their triumph in Qatar in 2022.

Argentina will face either Switzerland or Colombia in the World Cup quarter-finals before a potential showdown with England in the semi-finals, should Harry Kane and Co prevail against Erling Haaland’s Norway on Saturday.

How much is David Beckham set to pocket from his World Cup brand deals? Take on our quiz in our newsletter HERE.