At the ongoing FIFA World Cup in North America, we have heard claims of referees doing everything in their power to see to it that the Argentine team has it easy in every game they have played so far.
Various videos have surfaced in that regard, the most notable being a video of Lionel Messi not receiving even a yellow card after a dangerous tackle that could have damaged the Achilles tendon of an Algerian defender. The clip went viral, while several other incidents in which fouls were not called, with the resulting attacking moves leading to goals, have left many suggesting that this year’s World Cup has been rigged, just as some claimed happened at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, to help Lionel Messi establish himself as the greatest footballer of all time.
To further support the above claim, the game against Egypt provided what many believe is more evidence. Several key decisions by the referee went against the Egyptians, ultimately enhancing Argentina’s chances of progressing.
There was an incident where a foul on Martínez led to an Egyptian goal being disallowed. Later, a foul on Mohamed Salah inside the Argentine penalty box was not called, and Argentina went on to score from the same passage of play. The lack of a VAR review or intervention raised more questions, leading the Egyptian Football Federation to file a complaint with FIFA over what it described as biased officiating.
The game against Switzerland was another stain on the already dented image of the officiating at this tournament. Breel Embolo received a questionable second yellow card and was subsequently sent off for simulation near the centre of the pitch, something that usually attracts serious punishment only when it occurs inside the 18-yard box.
These and several other controversial decisions have caused many people to question FIFA’s credibility. With one team appearing to benefit from the majority of the contentious calls, many viewers around the world have found it difficult to dismiss the growing conspiracy theories surrounding Argentina’s progress.
However, the semifinal between England and Argentina has now presented FIFA with an opportunity to restore confidence in its image.
After the game, while celebrating their victory, the Argentine players took a banner from the crowd. The message written on it has the potential to reignite political tensions between Argentina and Britain at a time when emotions are already running high.
For historical context, Argentina and Britain fought a war over the Falkland Islands in 1982. Britain had controlled the islands before Argentine forces invaded on April 2 in an attempt to reclaim them. The war lasted for two months and 14 days before Argentine forces surrendered. To this day, the islands remain under British administration.
Of course, the islands have strategic and economic value, which explains why both countries fought over them, though we will not go into those details.
As the referee blew the final whistle, Argentine players held up a banner that read: “Las Malvinas son argentinas,” meaning, “The Malvinas are Argentine.”
That statement is widely regarded as a political message, something FIFA has consistently discouraged at its competitions.
According to FIFA’s disciplinary regulations, any team found guilty of displaying political messages may face sanctions if the disciplinary committee determines that the rules have been breached. Depending on the circumstances, such sanctions may include fines, match forfeiture, points deductions, or suspensions where individual players are directly involved.
The football world is now waiting to see what action FIFA will take after considering the nature and impact of the message.
It will not surprise many people if no action is taken against Argentina. However, such a decision would only strengthen the conspiracy theories already surrounding the tournament. On the other hand, if FIFA acts in accordance with its regulations, it may help restore confidence in the organisation’s commitment to fairness.
Overall, Argentina have fought hard to reach this stage of the competition. However, so too would Egypt, Cape Verde, Switzerland, and any other team that believes it was undone by costly refereeing mistakes. It is therefore unfortunate that this World Cup risks being remembered more for controversial officiating than for the outstanding football that fans have enjoyed since the opening day.
