Messi and Balogun: refereeing controversies at the 2026 Wor…
Messi can, Balogun can't? The controversial refereeing at the 2026 World Cup
ESPN analyst Renata Ruel argues that Messi deserved to be sent off against Algeria, while Balogun was correctly punished by the USA. Decisions reignite debate about refereeing criteria in the tournament.
Lionel Messi escaped a red card in Argentina's game against Algeria at the 2026 World Cup, but the decision divided opinions. Renata Ruel, ESPN's refereeing analyst, was categorical: the number 10 deserved to be expelled for a harsh tackle on an opponent. The controversy gained momentum after the USA's victory over Bosnia, when Folarin Balogun was sent off for a straight red card.
Ruel assessed that the punishment for the American striker was correct, while the absence of a card for Messi generated criticism. The difference in criteria, according to her, exposes inconsistencies that affect the tournament. The game between Argentina and Algeria, valid for the group stage, ended 2-1 for the Argentines.
Messi, who had already been warned with a yellow card, made an aggressive move in the 67th minute: he brought down an Algerian player with a lateral tackle that did not touch the ball. The tackle was classified as reckless under football rules, but referee Raphael Claus chose not to intervene with the red. The decision was questioned by many, including Ruel herself.
In the USA match, Balogun was sent off in the 38th minute of the first half for a violent clash in an aerial dispute with a Bosnian player. Referee Szymon Marciniak did not hesitate to show a straight red card. For Ruel, the punishment was exemplary and avoided an even more complicated outcome for the Americans.
The intense physical contact, without competition for the ball, constituted a serious offense according to the International Football Association Board (IFAB). ESPN highlighted that the expulsions reignited the debate about the consistency of refereeing at the 2026 World Cup. Players, coaches and fans demand more clarity in the criteria, especially in decisive moments of the tournament.
The lack of uniformity in punishments — such as the difference between red cards given in similar moves — puts the credibility of the World Cup at risk. Historically, previous editions have been marked by similar controversies, such as Zinedine Zidane's expulsion in the 2006 final or Diego Simeone's non-punishment in 1998, which directly influenced the results. The inconsistency is not limited to high-level players.
In other group stage matches, referees issued red cards in situations that, for many observers, could have been resolved with a yellow card. This highlights a pattern of subjectivity that harms sporting justice. The pressure on FIFA to review refereeing protocols has never been greater, especially after the introduction of VAR, which in theory should reduce errors but still leaves room for differing interpretations.
VAR, which arrived to increase the precision of decisions, has shown limitations when it comes to subjectivity. In moves like Messi's, technology helps identify contact, but does not define whether the entry merited a red card. The dependence on referees on the field to interpret the severity of the plays maintains the margin of error.
UEFA studies on the use of VAR in European competitions revealed that, in 30% of the cases analyzed, the final decision still differed from the consensus among experts. Another critical point is the variation in criteria between referees from different confederations. In the 2026 World Cup, with 48 teams from six different confederations, the lack of technical alignment among the judges is even more evident.
FIFA has already admitted that since the implementation of the proctoring system in 2022, uniformity has improved, but there are still significant regional discrepancies. For example, South American referees tend to be more strict on hard tackles, while European referees are more lenient — a bias that can benefit or harm selections depending on the referee's origin. What to expect now is greater pressure on FIFA to review refereeing protocols and prevent controversial decisions from defining the course of matches.
The controversy should gain even more strength in the next rounds, with the possibility of new controversial moves. The entity has already announced that it will analyze recent cases and may implement changes before the round of 16, such as the standardization of criteria for applying red cards and the more frequent use of real-time images to assist referees. The discussion transcends football: it reflects a larger problem of transparency and fairness in modern sport, where the reputation of players and teams can be affected by dubious decisions.
The 2026 World Cup, which promises to be the most technologically advanced in history, runs the risk of repeating past mistakes if there is no concrete effort to align criteria among referees. The case of Messi and Balogun serves as a warning to FIFA and fans: arbitration cannot be a distorting factor on the biggest stage in world football. Consistency must prevail, regardless of the name or country of the player involved.
The entity has already signaled that it may create a permanent technical committee to audit controversial decisions in real time, a measure that, if implemented, could reduce the margin of error in the round of 16. The tournament, which already accumulates more than 2 billion dollars in sponsorship revenue, cannot afford to have its credibility undermined by avoidable mistakes. Arbitration urgently needs to become an example of justice, not controversy. Read at ESPN Brasil
Why this matters
Renata Ruel's analysis exposes a central problem in the 2026 World Cup: the lack of uniformity in refereeing decisions. Players like Messi and Balogun, in similar situations, received different treatments, which affects sporting justice and can directly influence the teams' performance. The discussion is not only technical, but also symbolic, as it calls into question the credibility of the most important tournament in world football. The inconsistency in punishments reinforces the need for FIFA to act quickly to prevent arbitration from becoming a factor of injustice in the tournament. Furthermore, the commercial pressure on the entity — with billion-dollar revenues at stake — makes transparency even more urgent, as dubious decisions can generate financial and image losses.
Frequently asked
Why did Renata Ruel argue that Messi deserved a red card?
According to the analyst, Messi's harsh tackle on an Algerian player in the 67th minute was reckless, did not touch the ball and constituted a serious foul under IFAB rules. She argued that the absence of a red card exposed an inconsistency in the refereeing criteria.
How was Folarin Balogun's expulsion?
Balogun was sent off in the 38th minute of the first half in the USA's match against Bosnia. The referee issued a direct red card for a violent clash in an aerial dispute, without a dispute for the ball, a decision that Ruel considered correct and exemplary.
Which referees took charge of the mentioned games?
Argentina's game against Algeria was refereed by Raphael Claus, while Szymon Marciniak coached the USA's game against Bosnia. Both referees were questioned about their decisions.
Could the arbitration controversy affect the result of the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Controversial decisions at decisive moments can influence the performance of teams and even define classifications or eliminations. The lack of consistency in refereeing increases the pressure for changes in protocols, especially in an edition with high technological investment.
What can FIFA do to avoid new controversies?
The entity can review arbitration criteria, invest in technology such as VAR and train referees to apply punishments more uniformly. Transparency in decisions, with access to real-time images for referees, is also essential to reduce controversies.
Why is inconsistency in refereeing a recurring problem at the World Cup?
Historically, previous editions of the tournament have been marked by similar controversies, such as the expulsion of Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 final or the non-punishment of Diego Simeone in 1998. The subjectivity in decisions and the lack of standardization between referees from different countries perpetuate the problem, damaging the credibility of the event.
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