Alexis Mac Allister and Lionel Messi were fortunate to escape red cards in Argentina's 3-0 World Cup win over Algeria, according to the Algerian Football Federation.
The federation has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, citing a 30th-minute tackle by Messi and an unpunished incident involving Mac Allister.
What happened?
Algeria's hierarchy targeted several controversial decisions made by Polish match official Szymon Marciniak during the Group J encounter in Kansas City.
The complaint heavily details the incidents, including the tackle where Messi caught Aissa Mandi with his studs raised.
Why it matters for Alexis Mac Allister
The lack of disciplinary action on the pitch has sparked frustration among Algeria's technical staff, with head coach Vladimir Petkovic expressing his disappointment.
Petkovic stated: “It’s pointless commenting on hypothetical situations, but everyone saw it, including me.”
The incident involving Mac Allister allegedly saw him strike Ibrahim Maza with an elbow without receiving any sanction.
What comes next?
Argentina must quickly shift focus toward upcoming Group J fixtures against Austria and Jordan to secure early qualification.
The South American heavyweights will need to maintain strict discipline on the pitch to avoid further controversy.
As of the World Cup opener on June 2023, Argentina topped Group J with 3 points.
The reigning champions will aim to sustain their clinical attacking momentum while managing external controversies.
And with prospective knockout bracket permutations already taking shape, Argentina's objective remains clear.
But the disciplinary drama surrounding Mac Allister and Messi will be closely watched in the coming days.
So the pressure is on Argentina to respond to the allegations and prove their worth on the pitch.
The World Cup is scheduled to continue until December 2023, with Argentina facing Austria on June 2023.