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Reigning world champions Argentina launched their World Cup defense at Kansas City Stadium with a dominant 3–0 victory over Algeria, powered by a historic Lionel Messi hat-trick.
However, the match has since been overshadowed by a formal complaint reportedly filed to FIFA by the Algerian Football Federation, targeting a series of unpunished physical challenges they feel cost them the game.
According to The Athletic, the complaint centres on multiple incidents from a deeply physical encounter, but one of the moments that has caused the most anger in the Algerian camp involves Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and a challenge that many felt crossed the line entirely.
In the 74th minute, with Algeria trailing by a goal and still threatening to find a way back into the match, 20-year-old midfielder Ibrahim Maza attempted to drive through the Argentine press in the central third.
Mac Allister checked his run with considerable force, catching Maza directly in the face with a high, trailing elbow.
The young Algerian collapsed immediately, clutching his head, and was eventually substituted in the 81st minute after being cleared to continue temporarily.
What angered Algeria as much as the challenge itself was the response from the officials.
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, one of Europe’s most experienced officials and the man who took charge of the 2022 World Cup final, was positioned in close proximity to the incident and chose not to act.
The VAR team also declined to intervene, meaning Mac Allister escaped without so much as a yellow card.
Two minutes later, Messi completed his hat-trick to make the game entirely safe at 3-0.
An anonymous source speaking toThe Athletic confirmed that Algeria’s grievances heavily focus on a controversial 30th-minute tackle by Lionel Messi.
The Algerian federation argues that the Argentine captain’s dangerous, studs-up challenge on the right calf and Achilles tendon of skipper Aïssa Mandi firmly warranted a straight red card.
Marciniak awarded a free-kick for that incident but produced no card, a decision that came between Messi’s first and second goals as he built toward his historic treble.
Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic addressed the controversy in his post-match press conference with notable restraint, saying it was pointless to comment on hypothetical situations before adding that everyone saw what happened, including himself.
Writing for The Athletic, refereeing analyst and former Premier League official Graham Scott provided a nuanced perspective on Lionel Messi’s controversial challenge.
He noted that because the Algerian players on the pitch did not protest furiously, the VAR review officials would have used that lack of collective reaction as a key factor in their decision not to intervene.
The Mac Allister incident, however, involving direct contact to an opponent’s head, carries different implications under FIFA’s concussion and serious foul play protocols.
FIFA have been approached for comment.
For Mac Allister and Argentina, focus now turns to their next group fixture.
For Algeria, the wounds from Kansas City are not yet close to healing.
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