Lionel Messi has rejected allegations that Argentina benefited from favorable officiating during the FIFA World Cup, insisting the reigning champions earned their place in the final through resilience and consistent performances, reports AP.
Argentina booked a place in Sunday’s final against Spain after staging a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England, overturning a 1-0 deficit in the closing minutes. The win sparked massive celebrations across Buenos Aires and marked the team's latest comeback in the tournament.
The champions also fought back to beat Egypt 3-2 after trailing 2-0 late in the match and advanced past Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time. However, Egyptian and Swiss officials accused referees of favoring Argentina, while social media users claimed FIFA's tournament bracket benefited the South Americans.
“We’ve been the best over these past four years,” Messi said. “Nothing was handed to us.”
The controversy intensified after Switzerland's Breel Embolo was sent off following a disputed incident involving Leandro Paredes, prompting Swiss coach Murat Yakin to criticize the decision. Egypt’s Football Association also alleged biased officiating.
Coach Lionel Scaloni dismissed the accusations, saying VAR makes favoritism difficult. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez said his goal celebration against England was directed at critics. Meanwhile, Britain urged FIFA to investigate Argentina after players displayed a banner declaring, “The Malvinas are Argentine,” following the semifinal victory.
MSH
