Algeria has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA’s Referees Committee, expressing serious concerns about the performance of match officials following their 3-0 defeat to Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.
According to media reports, Algeria in its complaint specifically pointed to an incident in the first half, in which Argentina captain Lionel Messi allegedly kicked Algerian captain Jesus Mandi.
Algeria Football Federation of Argentina appealed to FIFA because Messi’s position was not shown on the card.pic.twitter.com/qoKybdE0pt
— Bosuna Tıklama (@bosunatiklama) June 19, 2026
On this occasion, Algerian players and fans wanted to take action against Messi, but the referee did not give any punishment.
Messi managed to score another hat-trick in the match and played a key role in the team’s success.
After the match, analysts were surprised that Messi was not given a red card.
Algiers also pointed to another incident in which Argentine midfielder Alexis McAllister was accused of punching Ibrahim Maza in the face, but no action was taken against him.
Der algerische Fußballverband hat nach der nicht gebelenen Roten Karte gegen Lionel Messi Beschwerde bei der FIFA “wegen unfairer Schiedsrichterentscheidungen” eingereicht. Das teilte eine Quelle des Verbandes am Freitag der Nachrichtenagentur AFP mit.🚨🇩🇿
🎙️ “Die Beschwerde… pic.twitter.com/tGyT2JYisa
– Sky Sport (@SkySportDE) June 19, 2026
The case has also sparked controversy on social media, with many users questioning whether Messi’s global fame influenced the referee’s decisions.
On the other hand, the coach of South Africa, Hugo Bruce, has been given a harsh punishment for his player by referring to this issue.
