Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, escaped a potential ban from FIFA, after he was not shown a red card for a dangerous foul during their 3-0 win over Algeria on Wednesday.
Messi grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick against the Desert Foxes.
But the 38-year-old was lucky not to be sent off in the first half, after he appeared to stamp on Algeria captain Aissa Mandi.
Polish referee, Szymon Marciniak, instead awarded a free-kick to the Africans, and Messi did not even receive a yellow card.
VAR also opted not to intervene, seemingly deeming the challenge as careless, rather than reckless or the use of excessive force.
I think it should have been a red card, in my opinion,” ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha told ESPN.
I think it feels like the moment was missed because obviously the stills make it look quite bad, but when the player was on the floor, you could see Messi had a level of concern towards him because he knew he’d potentially done something there which could get him into trouble.”
A red card would have seen Messi sit out their next Group J fixture against Austria.
Published By: Ajibade Victoria Ashabi.
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