Algeria Files Official Complaint to FIFA, Citing Messi's Non-Red Card

Algeria's Complaint to FIFA

The Algerian Football Federation (AFF) has officially filed a complaint with FIFA concerning several crucial officiating oversights during their recent World Cup qualifying match against Argentina. The AFF contends that three specific incidents involving Argentine players, particularly Lionel Messi, adversely influenced the match outcome, which ended in a 3-0 defeat for Algeria.

Key Incidents Highlighted

In their submission, Algeria expressed significant concern regarding Messi's conduct during the game. They argue that the Argentine captain should have been shown a red card for a foul committed on Algerian defender Aissa Mandi in the first half. The foul occurred in the 31st minute when Messi tackled Mandi, and according to the AFF, it constituted a legitimate grounds for expulsion. The referee for the match, Szymon Marciniak, did not issue any card to Messi, nor did VAR intervene to assess the incident.

Additional Officiating Oversights

The complaint also brought attention to another incident involving Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. The AFF claims that a foul on Algerian midfielder Ibrahim Maza, which took place in the second half, warranted a yellow card for Mac Allister. They argue that the contact resembled a dangerous play and should have resulted in disciplinary action.

Moreover, the AFF highlighted a second alleged foul by Mac Allister on defender Hadj Moussa, which they believe should have additionally resulted in a red card. The overarching sentiment from the AFF is that these missed calls significantly affected their team's performance and the final scoreline of the match.

Conclusion

Through this official complaint, Algeria seeks to address what they view as problematic officiating that may have altered the competitive integrity of their match against Argentina, calling for a review of the decisions made during the game. The outcome of this complaint remains to be seen as FIFA assesses the concerns raised by the federation.