Algeria has lodged a complaint with FIFA over what it described as “refereeing injustice” during its defeat to Argentina at the first FIFA World Cup, the AFP news agency reported, citing a source from the Algerian Football Federation.The complaint centered on an incident involving Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who tackled Algerian defender Aissa Mandi from behind in the 30th minute of Tuesday’s game but was not shown a card.Messi had already put Argentina in the lead before the challenge and later scored a hat-trick. Algeria fans called for the striker to be sent off after the attack on Mandi, but no disciplinary action was taken and Messi remained on the field.“The complaint is primarily about Messi’s challenge, which in everyone’s opinion deserved a red card,” said a source from the federation, as quoted by AFP.“There were also two elbow incidents…Both required dismissals.”“We are not saying that the Argentine team was not strong, but we cannot remain silent in the face of injustice,” the source added, as quoted by AFP.“There were three incidents that were crystal clear, and VAR did not intervene.”With his hat-trick, Messi equaled Miroslav Klose as the joint top scorer in the history of the World Cup with 16 goals.Algeria face Jordan in their second Group J game on Monday before playing Austria on June 27. Meanwhile, Argentina will play Austria in Dallas on Monday.Algeria are aiming to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for only the second time in their history, having previously reached the last 16 in 2014 before losing in extra time to eventual champions Germany.
