The Algerian Football Federation has lodged a complaint with FIFA over “refereeing injustice” in their opening World Cup loss to Argentina, particularly a tackle by Lionel Messi, an Algerian football federation source has revealed.
Messi caught Algerian defender, Aissa Mandi, on the calf, with a studs-up challenge from behind in the 30th minute of Tuesday’s match, but was not booked.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or (an annual football award presented by French news magazine France Football) winner, who had already given the reigning world champions, Argentina, the lead, went on to score a hat-trick.
“The complaint primarily concerns Messi’s challenge, which deserved a red card, in everyone’s opinion. There were also two elbow incidents… Both of which warranted dismissals,” the federation source said.
Algeria will face Jordan in their second match on Monday, before completing their Group J campaign against Austria on Saturday, June 27.