Algeria file FIFA complaint after Messi escapes red card in 3-0 World Cup defeat

Algeria have filed a formal complaint with FIFA’s refereeing commission over their 3-0 World Cup defeat against Argentina in Kansas City, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Friday. The grievance centres on a first-half incident in which Lionel Messi appeared to stand on the calf of Algeria captain Aissa Mandi without receiving so much as a yellow card.

Algerian supporters called loudly for Messi to be sent off at the time, but the forward escaped any punishment. He had already opened the scoring before the incident and went on to complete a hat-trick — a haul that moves him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the all-time top scorer in World Cup history.

The match was officiated by Poland’s Szymon Marciniak, who also took charge of the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where Argentina beat France on penalties.

Algeria must now regroup quickly, facing Jordan on Monday in a must-win fixture after the heavy opening defeat. Argentina, meanwhile, play Austria earlier the same day.

The result was also tinged with personal difficulty for Messi, who was visibly emotional during Argentina’s first match of the tournament. He later explained that the tears were unrelated to football. “I went through some difficult, complicated days,” he said. “I’m grateful to the entire delegation, to my teammates. They were always there for me, as always. They gave me a lot of strength to get through this.”

The Messi family subsequently released a statement on Thursday confirming that Messi’s father, Jorge, is currently receiving medical treatment. “He is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favourably,” the statement read, while urging the public and media to exercise “responsibility, prudence, and humanity” and to refrain from speculation about his condition.