Algeria protests 'refereeing injustice' in World Cup loss to Argentina

Algeria has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, protesting what they describe as "refereeing injustice" during their opening 2026 World Cup match against Argentina. The complaint centers on several incidents, most notably a challenge by Lionel Messi on Algerian defender Aissa Mandi.

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The complaint primarily concerns Messi’s challenge, which deserved a red card, in everyone’s opinion.

The incident in question occurred in the 30th minute of the match. Messi, who had already scored Argentina's opening goal, made a studs-up tackle from behind on Mandi. Despite the nature of the challenge, Messi was not booked by the referee. Algeria's football federation views this as a clear missed call, with a source stating, "The complaint primarily concerns Messi’s challenge, which deserved a red card, in everyone’s opinion."

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There were also two elbow incidents… Both of which warranted dismissals.

Beyond the Messi tackle, Algeria's complaint also highlights two other "elbow incidents" during the game, which they believe also warranted dismissals. The Algerian federation expressed that while they acknowledge Argentina's strength as the reigning world champions, they cannot accept perceived unfairness. "We are not saying that the Argentine team was not strong, but we cannot remain silent in the face of injustice," the federation source told AFP.

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We are not saying that the Argentine team was not strong, but we cannot remain silent in the face of injustice.

This action comes as Algeria prepares for their next matches in Group J against Jordan and Austria. The team is seeking to reach the World Cup knockout stage for only the second time in their history. The complaint underscores Algeria's determination to address perceived officiating errors that they believe significantly impacted the outcome of their crucial opening match.

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There were three incidents that were crystal clear, and VAR did not intervene.