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The Algerian Football Federation has submitted an official complaint to its international partner FIFA regarding refereeing errors in the “Desert Warriors” match against Argentina (0-3) in the first round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
According to website sources:TSA All about AlgeriaThe Algerian federation confirmed what was previously reported by Competition magazine and decided to take official action against Polish referee Simon Marciniak and the video assistant referee (VAR), considering that their decisions changed the course of the match and clearly hurt the Algerian team.
The most glaring fouls in the appeal were the sending off of Lionel Messi in the 32nd minute after the Argentine star made a brutal tackle on Algerian defender Issa Mendy when the Algerian’s leg was crushed under Messi’s feet in front of the referee and VAR technology.
Despite the seriousness of the warning, Messi, who scored Argentina’s first goal in the 17th minute, was not booked but continued to play unpunished. The error is at the heart of a complaint by the Algerian federation, which sees it as evidence of “special protection” for the Argentine player.
The complaint also included being elbowed by McAllister. In the 74th minute, Argentine midfielder Alexis McAllister elbowed Algerian player Ibrahim Maza in the face, causing him to fall to the pitch. Despite the clarity of the shot, the referee Marciniak did not award a penalty, or even show a yellow card.
These decisions caused outrage in football circles, as international and local sports media, along with refereeing experts, unanimously condemned the refereeing, which was described as “scandalous” and “influential” in the outcome of the game.
Filing a formal complaint to FIFA is a clear signal from the Algerian federation to avoid repeating such mistakes, which are often raised in major matches, and requires it to launch a fair and transparent investigation into the conduct of the refereeing staff.
