Did Messi Deserve a Red Card? Algeria Files Official FIFA Complaint Over World Cup Incident

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:13pm on 20 Jun 2026,Saturday Sports

Algeria have filed an official complaint with FIFA over refereeing decisions during their 3-0 defeat to Argentina at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The complaint focuses on an incident in which Lionel Messi appeared to step on Algeria captain Aissa Mandi during the first half but was not shown a card. Algeria also questioned a second-half challenge by Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on Ibrahim Maza that went unpunished. Despite the controversy, Messi starred for Argentina with a hat-trick in Kansas City. The three goals took the Argentine captain level with Miroslav Klose as the joint-highest scorer in men's World Cup history with 16 goals. (PC: NDTV)

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