Rafomac News, Tech & Trends That MatterArgentina’s stunning comeback against Egypt ended 3-2 in a World Cup thriller, but instead of celebrating, many accused FIFA of rigging the game. Three referee decisions sparked the outrage — but was the controversy justified?
Why Fans Thought FIFA Rigged the Game
The Argentina-Egypt clash delivered one of the most dramatic comebacks in World Cup history, with Messi orchestrating a thrilling 3-2 turnaround. Yet, rather than marvel at Messi’s brilliance — a goal and an assist — social media exploded with accusations that FIFA manipulated key moments in Argentina’s favor. The Egyptian coach went as far as refusing to watch the rest of the tournament, citing biases toward Messi.
Most of the uproar centers on three pivotal referee decisions during the match. These calls either overturned Egypt’s goals or denied their penalty appeals and have driven a wave of online skepticism about the game’s integrity.
Breaking Down the First Controversial Call
The biggest flashpoint was Egypt’s second goal, initially celebrated wildly on the sidelines. Lisandro Martínez, standing in Argentina’s attacking third, lost possession after a skillful nutmeg on one defender but then appeared to be fouled when another Egyptian player stepped on his foot before stealing the ball. VAR intervened, ruling it a foul on Egypt that nullified the goal.
Although VAR reviews that look back to fouls distant from the goal can feel excessive, in this case, the contact was clear and directly impacted the play. It wasn’t a subjective judgement; the pixel-perfect replay showed Martínez being tripped. Egypt did eventually score again to restore their 2-0 lead, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough.
Why the Second Call Wasn’t a Penalty
Next up was a contentious moment involving an alleged jersey pull by Argentina’s McAllister inside the box. The Egyptian player reacted dramatically by falling to the ground, but upon closer inspection, the tug was minimal—a common occurrence during physical play when jockeying for position. The player didn’t even have the ball at that moment.
Calling a penalty here would have set a dangerous precedent, awarding one of the softest penalties imaginable in a knockout game. Both commentators watching the live footage considered it a flop, and no referee would realistically rule in Egypt’s favor on such a minor contact.
What Happened with Mo Salah’s Penalty Claim?
The final moment sparking outcry involved Mo Salah and Julián Álvarez. Salah was dribbling into the box, but Álvarez successfully poked the ball away. While Salah did trip over Álvarez afterwards, crucially, he no longer had possession at that point. Once again, Salah went to the ground dramatically.
The decision not to award a penalty aligns with the rules and common sense of the game—contact without ball control rarely garners a penalty call. Even if a foul had been called, it wouldn’t have guaranteed an Egypt win. The match’s momentum and statistics heavily favored Argentina, who held 63% possession and an expected goals tally of 2.90 versus Egypt’s 0.97. Egypt’s performance was commendable, but Argentina had the edge.
The Bigger Picture: Messi’s Brilliance Outshines Controversy
The persistent claims that FIFA rigged the match overlook the real story—Messi delivering arguably one of his finest World Cup performances on the grandest stage. The “rigged for Messi” narrative ignores that greatness can’t be scripted or manipulated by officiating. Referees are doing their best to enforce the rules precisely, often using VAR for marginal calls.
When you lose, it’s tempting to blame external factors, but the details tell a different story. Argentina deserved the win. Egypt played valiantly but came up short against the defending champions and arguably the greatest player of all time.
This match was a reminder that football is full of fine margins and dramatic twists, and while errors happen, the accusations of rigging fall apart under scrutiny. The real takeaway? Celebrate Messi’s genius before it’s too late—and respect a valiant Egyptian side that pushed the champions to the limit.
