Algeria Lodge Official Complaint to FIFA Over Lionel Messi
GiveMeSport • • sports
Key Points:
- Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria in their World Cup Group J opener, equaling Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals.
- Algeria filed an official complaint to FIFA citing poor refereeing, specifically regarding Messi's studs-up foul on captain Aissa Mandi, which they argued deserved a red card but went unpunished.
- Algeria also protested an unpunished elbow by Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister on Ibrahim Maza, questioning the decisions made by referee Szymon Marciniak and the VAR team.
- Pundits widely agreed Messi should have been sent off, with ESPN analysts and commentator Piers Morgan criticizing the refereeing and VAR for missing a clear red card offense.
- Argentina will face Austria next in Dallas, while Algeria plays Jordan in San Francisco.
