The Foul VAR Let Slide and FIFA Is Already Facing a Formal Complaint

Holy smokes, you guys, did you catch the Argentina-Algeria World Cup opener? Because if you didn't, you missed some WILD stuff. Not just Lionel Messi lighting up the scoreboard with a hat-trick, but also a foul so nasty that the Algerian Football Federation, the FAF, has already fired off a formal complaint to FIFA! Seriously, what are we even doing here if VAR isn't stepping in on plays like this? The refereeing in their 3-0 loss to Argentina is under the microscope, and Messi's challenge is the main event everyone's talking about.

That "Ugly" Tackle and the Missing Red Card

So, here's the deal: Messi, fresh off opening the scoring just 17 minutes in, went on to bag two more goals to seal the win. But between his first and second goals, on the half-hour mark, he pulled off a challenge that looked incredibly lucky to not earn him an early shower. He went in for a tackle on Algeria's Aïssa Mandi, and his studs just raked the back of Mandi's calf. Referee Szymon Marciniak, who you'd think would be sharp after officiating the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Champions League finals, blew for the foul, but that was it. No card, no nothing! And the VAR? Crickets. They didn't even suggest an on-field review. Replays of that m

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oment are brutal, showing Messi's entire sole and studs connecting with the back of Mandi's calf and Achilles. Come on, that screams red-card offense, right? My jaw was on the floor watching that.

Why Did VAR Stay Silent?

You'd be hard-pressed to find a fan in the Emerald City, or anywhere else, who would argue that wasn't a potential red. So why didn't VAR step in? The source says VAR undoubtedly watched the footage back several times. The likely excuse? Lack of intent. They're saying it was ugly, not deliberate. Plus, the Algerian players didn't exactly riot on the field, which apparently made officials think it wasn't a red at the time. The big question here is whether this was "serious foul play" involving endangering a player's safety or excessive force. Officials didn't think it hit the mark for either, but honestly, not even a yellow card from Marciniak was a shocker. What's even crazier is VAR can't recommend *just* a yellow. This leniency allowed Messi to go on and complete that famous hat-trick, tying Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. No suspension means he's all set to claim that record for himself when Argentina faces Austria on June 22. Get ready for some more fireworks, because FIFA has a complaint to deal with, and Messi is chasing history!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.