Argentina is through to the World Cup semifinals, but Messi and company are not exactly storming toward the trophy. Instead, their journey has been full of controversy and drama.
The defending champions looked flat against Switzerland on Saturday and needed extra time to grind out a dramatic 3-1 victory. Their reward is a blockbuster semifinal against England, Argentina’s historic rival both on the pitch and in the long-running sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands.
One ugly question seems to be following Argentina through the tournament: Should Messi’s team have reached the quarterfinals at all?
That question began with a wild 3-2 comeback against Egypt, when a disallowed Egyptian goal and several rejected penalty appeals helped turn Egypt's 2-0 lead into an Argentine victory. Egypt and many fans around the world walked away furious, convinced that the match had been stolen.
The game was over, but the scandal was only beginning.
The VAR Decision That Changed Everything
Egypt believed it had scored a goal that could have changed the final result. Then the Video Assistant Referee, known as VAR, intervened. The goal was disallowed, and the referee confirmed the decision.
The Egyptian players were furious, while their supporters immediately accused the officials of using an overly technical interpretation of the rules. There were also complaints about possible penalties that were never awarded.
Football rules experts described the decision to disallow the goal as difficult to defend. For Egypt, it was not simply another controversial call. It was the moment the entire match changed.
And because Messi was playing for the other side, he quickly became the face of the controversy.
The FBI Investigation in Argentine Football
While Argentina and Egypt were fighting inside the stadium, US federal prosecutors and FBI agents were taking testimony about the Argentine Football Association (AFA)’s financial operations in the United States.
Investigators are examining whether AFA may have used the US banking system to commit crimes such as money laundering and fraud. The investigation involves transactions worth more than $300 million and intermediary companies that may have helped support a corruption network.
This is not the first international scandal involving Argentina’s football leadership either. In 2020, AFA officials were accused by the US government, along with other South American football executives, of receiving millions of dollars in bribes connected to the selection of Russia and Qatar as hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The Argentine Running the Empire
At the center of Argentina’s football machine is Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, the powerful president of AFA. In addition to the US investigation, Tapia is also facing criminal proceedings in Argentina in a tax evasion case.
To his critics, he is not simply a sports official, but also the symbol of a toxic and highly corrupt system of power. Under Tapia, AFA has achieved major success on the field, but it has also attracted investigations, accusations, and growing public distrust away from it.
That is why the controversy against Egypt became explosive so quickly. When the organization behind the world champions is already under suspicion, every decision that goes in Argentina's favor begins to look less innocent.
Messi Is the Star, but Look Behind Him
Messi himself is not under investigation, but the organization behind Argentina's national team increasingly is.
The AFA manages the national team, profits from its success, and controls one of football's most valuable global brands. As US investigators examine allegations involving hundreds of millions of dollars in financial transactions, every major controversy surrounding Argentina inevitably draws greater scrutiny.
That helps explain why the match against Egypt became so explosive. In isolation, a disputed VAR decision might have been dismissed as another refereeing controversy. Combined with an ongoing FBI investigation into the AFA, however, it has fueled broader questions about whether Argentina's success is legitimate.
For Argentina, the greatest threat to its World Cup campaign is no longer other teams. It's the growing perception that Argentine football is corrupt and that its success has less to do with what happens on the field than with shady deals made off the field.
Loading comments...