FIFA World Cup 2026: Algeria File Complaint Over Referee's Decision On Messi Tackle
Paris: Algeria have lodged a complaint with FIFA over "refereeing injustice" in their opening World Cup loss to Argentina, particularly a tackle by Lionel Messi, an Algerian football federation source told AFP on Friday. Messi caught Algeria defender Aissa Mandi on the calf with a studs-up challenge from behind in the 30th minute of Tuesday's match but was not booked.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who had already given reigning world champions Argentina the lead, went on to score a hat-trick. "The complaint primarily concerns Messi's challenge, which deserved a red card, in everyone's opinion," said the federation source. "There were also two elbow incidents... Both of which warranted dismissals."
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who had already given reigning world champions Argentina the lead, went on to score a hat-trick. "The complaint primarily concerns Messi's challenge, which deserved a red card, in everyone's opinion," said the federation source. "There were also two elbow incidents... Both of which warranted dismissals."