15/07/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | JULY 15, 2026

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2026 WORLD CUP

‘VAR-gentina?’ Conspiracy theories swirl ahead of World Cup semifinals

L IONEL MESSI’S brilliance has helped carry Argentina into a blockbuster World Cup semifinal with England in Atlanta tomorrow (3am Malaysian time). But the defending champions’ journey to the last four has been engulfed by online con spiracy theories claiming – without evidence – that the playing field has been tilted in their favour. Social media is awash with AI-generated videos and memes which amplify this narra tive, whether it’s Fifa President Gianni Infantino and Messi sharing a loving embrace on the deck of the Titanic in the style of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, or sim ply Infantino’s face being superimposed at the heart of the Sun of May at the center of Argentina’s flag. From contentious refereeing decisions to claims of being handed a kind draw to the final, here’s a break down the main incidents which have given rise to the conspiracy theo ries: Messi escapes red In Argentina’s group stage win over Algeria, with the South Americans leading 1-0, captain Lionel Messi raked his studs down the right calf and Achilles tendon of Algeria skipper Aissa Mandi in the 30th minute. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak gave Algeria a freekick but Messi received no further Argentina fullback gradually relaxed into easy conversation, thawing the room with warmth and easy humour and drawing laughs from even the famously stern Capello. Six years later, the understated coach from the small town of Pujato takes Argentina into a World Cup semifinal against England, one victory from a second successive final and a chance to lead Argentina to become the first team since 1962 to win back to-back World Cup titles. Back in February 2020 at the Bilbao summit, Scaloni was still best known as a former hardworking player who had built his career in Spain playing for Deportivo La Coruna and Racing Santander, with less memorable spells in England and Italy, before drifting into Argentina’s national set-up after serving as Jorge Sampaoli’s assistant at the chaotic 2018 World Cup. Argentina’s Round of 16 exit in Russia had pushed Lionel Messi away from the national team, exhausted by the old accusation that he could not reproduce his Barcelona brilliance in blue and white. Scaloni was handed Argentina in no small part due to the fact that Mauricio Pochettino, Diego Simeone and others had declined the AFA’s poisoned chalice. Few then imagined Scaloni would go on to become one of the most successful figures in the country’s foot ball history. Aided throughout by former play ers Pablo Aimar and Walter Samuel, Scaloni first coaxed Messi back. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic, the postponement of the Copa America and, eventually, the day in Rio de Janeiro that changed everything. At the Maracana in 2021, thanks to Angel Di Maria’s 21st-minute goal,

final win over Switzerland on in Kansas City on Sunday. In the 70th minute, referee Joao Pinheiro gave Argentina’s Leandro Paredes a yellow card for a foul on Breel Embolo, shortly after Switzerland had equalised at 1-1 and were dominating the weary world champions. However a VAR intervention using Fifa’s new mistaken identity rule determined that Embolo had initiated the foul in an act of simu lation and the call was overturned. Yet because Embolo had already received a yellow card, he was shown a red and sent off – leaving Switzerland down to 10-men and halt ing their momentum. Argentina would on to secure victory in extra-time. A kind draw? Critics of Argentina’s run to the semifinals cite the ranking of their opponents as evidence of favouritism by Fifa. So far Argentina has not had to face a team ranked higher than 19th in the world heading into their clash with England tomorrow. After topping a group that included Algeria, Jordan and Austria, Argentina’s knockout round oppo nents were Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland. Spain have had the hardest route to the semifinals, needing to beat fifth-ranked Portugal and Belgium (ninth) on their way to the last four. AFP

outraged by several decisions by French refe ree Francois Letexier that went in Argentina’s favour at key moments. The biggest post-game talking point sur rounded a goal scored by Egypt in the second half which was disallowed after an intervention by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), who had spotted a foul on an Argentina player several phases before Egypt’s Mostafa Zico put the ball in the net, at the other end of the pitch. Several analysts questioned whether VAR had overstepped its reach. Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan also claimed that Egypt should have been awarded a penalty in the build-up to Enzo Fernandez’s late winner for Argentina. Fifa referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina rejected the Egyptian allegations as “unfounded”. Pivotal VAR call Another pivotal VAR call helped shape the outcome of Argentina’s 3-1 extra-time quarter

sanction and would go on to score a hattrick. Several pundits however were adamant that Messi had been guilty of serious foul play and under the letter of the law, should have been shown a red card that would have led to a sus pension. “It should have been a red card in my opin ion,” said ESPN pundit and former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha. “Messi knew he did something that could have got him in trouble. I personally feel it is a red card.” Algeria’s football federation subsequently filed an official complaint to Fifa over “referee ing injustice” in the game. Egypt cry foul Argentina produced one of the all-time great comebacks to keep their World Cup cam paign alive in the last 16 against Egypt, recover ing from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 and reach the quarterfinals. But Egypt’s players and coaching staff were

Scaloni’s quiet revolution LIONEL SCALONI barely registered among the coaching royalty gath ered in Bilbao. Brazil’s Tite drew the crowds to the International Football Summit. Fabio Capello, Unai Emery and Ernesto Valverde commanded attention. Scaloni, only months into one of world football’s most unforgiving jobs, looked like an afterthought. Then lunch was served. Initially quiet at the table, the former Argentina’s Lionel Messi (left) and head coach Lionel Scaloni in a training session in Kansas City on Monday. – AFPPIC

Argentinian media go on the attack

SECTIONS of the Argentine media have launched a blistering attack on England after several pundits insisted they were not afraid of taking on the reign ing world champions in the World Cup semifinals. The Three Lions will battle it out against Lionel Messi’s Argentina tomorrow (3am) in a mouth watering clash for a place in Monday’s final. The long-running animosity has been given an extra edge after a pre-match war of words erupted between the English and Argentine press. The backlash followed comments from former England star Ian Wright on The Rest Is Football podcast, where he confidently declared that Thomas Tuchel’s side were “going to beat” Argentina to reach their first World Cup final since 1966. “If we get to a France or a Spain, I think the level goes to another place entirely,” he said. “It’s got to be difficult – it’s the final, isn’t it? “But I don’t fear Argentina like I’d fear France or Spain, because I think there are a lot of fallacies with them.” Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, who won 56 appearances for England, was equally bullish, arguing the Three Lions have what it takes to nullify Messi – the joint-top scorer at this World Cup so far with eight goals. “Is this the first time Messi will play England? Well, we’re going to have to put him to sleep,” Cole said. “We’re going to put him to sleep. I’m saying it now, we’re going to reach the World Cup final. We’ve got plenty of speed for Argentina and we’re going to beat them. I can feel it in my bones.” Gary Neville also weighed in, claiming Argentina’s first-choice centreback partnership of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez could be exposed by England’s in-form attack. “They seem to give a goal away between them every single game, and the fullbacks aren’t great either,” Neville said. “But then you watch them and they’re scoring goals, heading the ball and something for them every time they put that shirt on. I call them the best, worst centrehalf pairing in the world, because at times they can be unbelievable.” The confidence has struck a nerve in Buenos Aires, with leading Argentine newspaper Ole accusing England of showing a lack of respect towards the three-time world champions. Yesterday’s front page carried the message: “England is downplaying us – respect the pecking order.” The paper added: “There is a sense of trium phalism among the English press and former play ers, who downplay the Argentinian powerhouse, all while their star (Jude) Bellingham and manager Tuchel are feuding in public.” – Express Newspapers

become louder. Instead, he has kept stepping aside, allowing Messi and the players to remain the protago nists. His tears after Argentina’s come back against Egypt in the Round of 16, when they trailed 2-0 late in the sec ond half, said plenty. They recalled the image of him after Gonzalo Montiel’s decisive pen alty against France in 2022: motion less, hands over his face, as if trying to confirm that reality had not played a trick on him. His greatest achievement, how ever, seems to be solving how to manage Messi without being con sumed by Messi’s figure and all the pressure that surrounds him. Under Scaloni, Argentina became more than a side built around Messi. Instead, players seem to feel inspired and driven by their icon to become pillars of the same mission, brilliantly described by midfielder Leandro Paredes: “We work so that Messi’s last game never arrives.” – Reuters

Argentina beat Brazil in the Copa America final, ending their 28-year trophy drought and giving Messi his first major senior title with his country. It was the spark for the golden era that conquered France in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar. Yet Scaloni has never turned Messi or Argentina into a way of seeking vindication for his work. He con quered the world without appearing to believe he owned it. That restraint has become part of his power. In a football culture often caricatured as extravagant or arro gant, Scaloni has built a side around emotional force without making him self the show. “I’m not a coach because I like the 4-3-3,“ he said at a press conference ahead of the game with Switzerland. “I like to be in a group with col leagues, drinking mate, eating asado (barbecue), playing cards … if you only think of the game you end up burned out.” Scaloni has had every chance to