The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has filed an official complaint with FIFA regarding the officiating in their 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Argentina, which ended in a 3-0 defeat. The FAF alleges that the referee failed to penalize Lionel Messi after he stepped on the leg of Algeria's team captain, Aïssa Mandi. Despite the incident, Messi scored a hat-trick to secure Argentina's victory.
Details of the complaint
According to the FAF, the referee also overlooked an elbow by Alexis Mac Allister against Ibrahim Maza in the second half, which Algeria believes should have been reviewed by VAR. The federation stated that these incidents have eroded confidence in the tournament's officiating standards.
Algeria's complaint specifically points to the lack of disciplinary action against Messi and Mac Allister, arguing that such decisions impacted the fairness of the match. The FAF has called for a review of the officiating protocols to prevent similar issues in future games.
Impact and upcoming matches
Argentina remains focused on their next match against Austria, while Algeria will prepare to face Jordan on June 23. The outcome of the complaint could influence FIFA's handling of officiating disputes moving forward.
