{"id":2638,"date":"2026-06-18T07:33:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T07:33:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=2638"},"modified":"2026-06-18T07:33:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T07:33:29","slug":"fifa-world-cup-referees-treatment-of-messi-raises-red-card-question","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=2638","title":{"rendered":"FIFA World Cup referee\u2019s treatment of Messi raises red card question"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MIAMI \u2014 A day after his FIFA World Cup 2026 debut, slow-motion replays fueled a dilemma about how a referee should have disciplined Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n

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About 30 minutes into the Group J opening match against Algeria, a referee awarded a free-kick to Algeria over the Argentine superstar\u2019s foul. <\/p>\n

The referee\u2019s response to the legend prompted Hugo Broos, South Africa\u2019s coach, to appeal Themba Zwane\u2019s June 11 red card, which bans him for three matches. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe red card is too severe. I saw back the situation where Themba got the red card. I don\u2019t think it was a red card,\u201d Broos told reporters. \u201cWhen I see what happened yesterday with Messi, then I don\u2019t agree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Messi, 38, who made FIFA history as the first man to play in six different World Cups, stepped on Algeria national team captain A\u00efssa Mandi\u2019s right calf.<\/p>\n

Szymon Marciniak, a Polish association referee, gave Messi a warning. <\/p>\n

The referee\u2019s choices also included daring to give the star a red card for intentional violence or excessive force, or a yellow card for reckless misconduct. <\/p>\n

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\u201cI think there was not even a VAR with Messi,\u201d Broos said. \u201cI don\u2019t want Messi to get a red card because that player has to be on the pitch, and you saw yesterday what a wonderful player he is. But, yeah, what is the difference here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Messi scored his 14th, 15th, and 16th World Cup goals during his 27th World Cup match on Tuesday, and Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0. <\/p>\n

Before Broos\u2019s appeal, and during the match, commentators raised similar questions about the foul. Patrick Ittrich, a former German association referee, told the DPA press agency he felt strongly about it. <\/p>\n

\u201cBy the letter of the law, that is a red. If I had seen it like that on the pitch, I would have shown red,\u201d Ittrich said. \u201cIf the referee had shown red, it definitely would not have been overturned.\u201d<\/p>\n

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