World Cup 2026 / Argentina - Algeria: Messi, VAR and Marciniak at the center of huge controversy

16.06.26 FT World Cup

Argentina

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Algeria

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The clash between Argentina and Algeria is far from over in the court of public opinion. Beyond Lionel Messi's hat-trick, the decisions of Polish referee Szymon Marciniak and the use of VAR are sparking heated debate across the football world.

Algeria’s 3-0 defeat to Argentina could have been explained by sporting reasons alone. Instead, in the aftermath, it has ignited a global refereeing controversy. At the heart of the debate: Messi’s studs-up challenge on Aïssa Mandi’s leg in the 32nd minute, punished by Marciniak with only a free kick—no card, no VAR intervention. Mandi himself didn’t hold back on Instagram: "If I had broken my ankle last night, the one who did it would have walked away without a card. Referees must do better. The whole world is watching them."

An international consensus beyond Algeria’s borders

The controversy quickly spilled past Algeria. Roy Keane called the decision “incomprehensible,” while Marcelo summed up the widespread feeling with a blunt statement: “That’s a red card... but since it’s Messi, nothing happens.” The specialist site Archivo VAR rated Marciniak a mere 3.5 out of 10. Even Petkovic, not known for stirring the pot, admitted: "Everyone saw it, including me. After the match, I watched the footage again, but I’d rather not talk too much about it."

Read also: 2026 World Cup: After the blowout against Argentina, Algeria turns to Jordan

Chaïbi’s goal and the offside calls under scrutiny

The other flashpoint: Farès Chaïbi’s disallowed goal for offside. The VAR images used to justify the call left many analysts unconvinced, with some arguing that the point where the ball was struck—the reference for drawing the lines—was questionable. According to them, with a more accurate reference, Chaïbi wouldn’t have been offside. Algerian expert Mohamed Zekrini judged the cancellation "not clear enough to justify such a categorical decision," adding: "If the roles were reversed and Mandi had made the same challenge on Messi, the outcome would have been completely different." As a result, it’s the credibility of the VAR system itself that’s now in question, far beyond just the Algerian camp.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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