🚨Riyad Mahrez on the controversial Lionel Messi challenge against Aïssa Mandi during Argentina vs Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Algeria’s shameful performance:
🗣️ “I know this won’t be a popular opinion, but for me, if that challenge is made by almost any other player in this tournament, we’re having a completely different conversation.
If that is a defender wearing a different shirt, a midfielder from a smaller nation, or simply a player without Lionel Messi’s name on the back, I believe there is a serious chance a red card is shown.
That is my honest view.
The contact was significant.
When you see a boot come up and catch an opponent like that, players have been sent off for similar incidents before.
That is why so many people are debating it.
What frustrates players is consistency.
We are always told the rules are the same for everyone.
But moments like this make people question whether that is really the case.
Messi is one of the greatest players in football history.
Nobody can deny that.
He does not need special treatment.
His football speaks for itself.
That is why controversies like this become so big.
Because people look at the incident and wonder if the decision would have been the same if another player had made the challenge.
Of course, the referee and VAR saw it differently.
They reviewed it and decided there was no red card.
That decision is final.
But do not be surprised that players, fans and pundits continue to argue about it.
Because if football wants credibility, then consistency must be the same whether your name is Lionel Messi or anybody else.
That is the debate people are having tonight.”
{@beINSPORTS }
🚨🎙️ Roy Keane on Messi’s career ending tackle overlooked by VAR and the referee ;
🗣️”After the match yesterday all you see is Messi’s praises everywhere, the hype, the headlines, the hat-trick talk. Yeah, maybe he deserves some of it — the lad can still play.
But no one wants to say the truth. No one wants to address what went wrong yesterday.
That challenge was an absolute disgrace. Late, studs up, straight into the Achilles — career-ending territory. On any other player, anywhere else, it’s a straight red card and you’re marching off before half-time. But not when it’s Messi.
The referee bottles it, VAR takes a quick look and says ‘nah, carry on lad.’ Give me a break!
This is the World Cup, the biggest stage in the game. This is where the rules are supposed to mean something. Not bent, not softened, not ignored because of the name on the back of the jersey. Players have been sent off for half as much in this tournament. Where’s the consistency? Do the laws of the game suddenly not apply when it’s Lionel Messi?
This is why the game’s gone soft. Big names get protected, the rest get crucified. Absolute joke of officiating on the greatest stage of all.”
A perfect example of how rich kids use that father’s names to acquire positions they aren’t supposed to have.
There’s no way this guy goes professional without Zidane
Omg this is gold!
They hooked Zlatan up to a lie-detector and asked if he respected the opinions of "ALL" his fellow FOX sports analysts 🤣
(🎥: @FOXSports)
I remember watching Seinfeld and we all laughed when Kramer was attacked for not wanting to wear the Aids Ribbon
He was participating in the event, paid his money was was there to support, but it wasn't enough
Now its reached the point where you are penalized for not wearing the ribbon
We live in clown times