Algeria File Complain Over Referee’s Decision On Messi Tackle

Algeria have formally lodged a complaint with FIFA over what they described as “refereeing injustice” during their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup defeat to Argentina, with a controversial challenge involving Lionel Messi at the centre of their protest.
According to AFP’s source within the Algerian Football Federation, the complaint focuses primarily on an incident in the 30th minute of Tuesday’s Group J clash, when Messi appeared to catch defender Aissa Mandi on the calf with a studs-up challenge from behind.
Despite protests from the Algerian players, the referee neither cautioned nor sent off the Argentina captain, who went on to inspire the reigning world champions to victory with a h...