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‎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.

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‎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.

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‎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.

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‎“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.

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‎Algeria will face Jordan in their second match on Monday, before completing their Group J campaign against Austria on Saturday, June 27.

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