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The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has reportedly submitted a formal complaint to FIFA regarding the officiating during the team's 3–0 loss to Argentina in their World Cup opener, with a particular foul by Lionel Messi drawing significant attention.
Messi, who broke the deadlock after 17 minutes, went on to score two more goals to complete the victory, but was perhaps lucky to remain on the field following a dangerous challenge around the 30-minute mark.
The Inter Miami attacker moved in to challenge Aïssa Mandi and caught the Algerian defender on the back of the calf with his studs. Referee Szymon Marciniak whistled for a foul but took no further action against Messi, and VAR did not call for an on-field review.
According to Reuters, the FAF has since raised concerns with FIFA regarding Marciniak's officiating, with the Polish referee also accused of failing to adequately penalize two additional challenges.
Should Messi Have Seen Red?
When viewed in slow motion, Messi's challenge on Mandi looked severe. The full surface of his boot, studs included, made contact with the back of the Algerian's calf and Achilles tendon.
Making contact with an opponent in such a way would typically constitute a red-card offense, and few fans would argue to the contrary. It is precisely for this reason that VAR's decision not to recommend an on-field review comes as a surprise.
Marciniak, who officiated both the 2022 World Cup final and the 2023 Champions League final, may not have clearly seen the incident in real time, but VAR would undoubtedly have reviewed the footage multiple times before choosing not to intervene.
What likely worked in Messi's favor was the apparent absence of intent or aggression. It was a reckless challenge but clearly unintentional, and the muted reaction from the Algerian players nearby suggests that few believed it warranted a red card in the moment.
The central question surrounding this foul is whether it constituted serious foul play, which involves either putting a player's safety at risk or applying excessive force. It was evidently not an example of the latter, and the officials did not consider it to meet the threshold for the former.
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That said, Marciniak's failure to issue at least a yellow card was somewhat unexpected, though his exact view of the incident at the time remains uncertain. It is worth noting that VAR is not permitted to recommend the issuance of a yellow card.
The officials' lenient approach allowed Messi to go on and complete a memorable hat-trick, drawing level with Miroslav Klose as the all-time top scorer in World Cup history. With no suspension to contend with, he is well-positioned to claim the record outright when Argentina next face Austria on June 22.