Algeria is complaining to FIFA about the refereeing defeat against Argentina during the 2026 World Cup

Algeria has filed a complaint over alleged poor refereeing during the 3-0 World Cup defeat to Argentina this week, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday.

Algeria sent a letter to FIFA’s refereeing committee, with particular reference to the incident in the first half when Argentina’s Lionel Messi stood on the calf of Algeria captain Aissa Mandi. Algeria supporters shouted for Messi to be sent off when he caught Mandi close to the calf from behind with a raised boot, but the striker was not punished and went on to score a hat-trick.

Algeria also claimed Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s elbow to Ibrahim Maza’s face went unpunished by Pole Szymon Marciniak in the second half of the Group J match in Kansas City.

CLICK HERE FOR SPORTSTAR’S FULL WORLD CUP STATEMENT

The veteran referee, who officiated the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar in which Argentina defeated France on penalties, was within a meter of the incident when Mac Allister appeared to check Maza with a raised elbow.

raises questions

Algeria’s complaint raises questions about Marciniak’s performance and that of his VAR team, led by compatriot Tomasz Kwiatkowski.

The Messi incident caused a storm on social media, with fans debating whether his star status played a role in the lack of punishment. South African coach Hugo Broos also referred to it when asked on Wednesday to respond to his midfielder Themba Zwane having his World Cup ban extended to three matches after a red card in the opening match against Mexico.

«When I see what happened to Messi, I don’t agree, especially with what happened to my player. If you see the situation, the Mexican player blocked my player, and Themba tried to get over him, and he put his arm over his shoulder. That’s all he does,» Broos said.

«And for that you get a red card and then a three-match suspension? Sorry, but this is far, far, far too serious. I don’t want Messi to get a red card because a player of that quality has to be on the pitch, as you saw (against Algeria), ‌but what was the difference between that and Zwane?» the coach asked.

Argentina faces Austria in Dallas on Monday and Algeria faces Jordan in San Francisco.

Published on June 20, 2026