World Cup 2026: Refereeing scandal erupts after Algeria-Argentina, FAF officially appeals to FIFA

Algeria is crying foul and refusing to stay silent after a perceived blatant injustice. Following their World Cup defeat to Argentina, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has officially lodged a complaint with FIFA. They contest refereeing decisions they deem partial, specifically highlighting a dangerous tackle by Lionel Messi that went unpunished.

The first match for the Fennecs in this World Cup 2026, held in Kansas City, left Algerian supporters with a bitter taste. In the 30th minute, with Argentina already leading, Lionel Messi committed a particularly strong tackle from behind on Algerian defender Aïssa Mandi's calf. Observers widely agreed this action warranted a direct red card. However, Polish referee Szymon Marciniak issued no card, and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) remained inexplicably silent.

Beyond the incident involving the Argentine star, the FAF points to a double standard in officiating that endangered the physical integrity of their players. Two other significant actions are directly targeted in the Algerian claim: deliberate elbowing of offensive midfielders Ibrahim Maza and Anis Hadj Moussa. According to an internal FAF source speaking to AFP, these aggressions also justified immediate expulsions. Sources close to the national technical staff suggest the VAR deliberately ignored these incidents to preserve the spectacle at the expense of the Algerian national team's rights.

The Algerian federation, aware that the 3-0 scoreline will not be overturned, primarily aims to assert its position and defend the honor of the "Verts" on the international stage. An internal source clarified the Algerian approach: "We are not saying the Argentine team was not strong, but we cannot remain silent in the face of injustice. Three actions were perfectly clear, and the VAR did not intervene." Algerian football is calling for disciplinary sanctions against the referees to ensure such lapses do not happen again. The Fennecs will now look to channel this frustration into their crucial second match against Jordan.

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We are not saying the Argentine team was not strong, but we cannot remain silent in the face of injustice. Three actions were perfectly clear, and the VAR did not intervene.