Algeria has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA’s refereeing committee following a 3–0 defeat to Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, expressing serious concerns over the performance of the match officials.
According to media reports, Algeria specifically highlighted an incident in the first half in which Argentina captain Lionel Messi allegedly stepped on Algeria captain Issa Mendy’s shin.
Algerian players and fans called for disciplinary action against Messi, but the referee did not take any action at the time. Messi later went on to score a hat-trick and played a key role in Argentina’s victory. After the match, analysts also expressed surprise that Messi was not shown a red card for the incident.
Algeria further pointed to another situation in which Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was accused of elbowing Ibrahim Maza in the face, but no action was taken by the officials.
The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many users questioning whether Messi’s global reputation influenced the referee’s decisions.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos also referenced the match, raising concerns about what he described as inconsistent disciplinary action against his players.
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