Algeria lodge complaint over refereeing in World Cup loss to Argentina after Lionel Messi escaped red card

Lionel Messi controversially avoided a red card in Argentina’s clash with Algeria

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Algeria has lodged a formal complaint regarding the refereeing in their 3-0 World Cup defeat by Argentina earlier this week, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Friday.

The grievance, sent to Fifa’s refereeing commission, specifically cites a first-half incident where Argentina’s Lionel Messi stood on the calf of Algeria captain Aissa Mandi.

Algerian supporters vehemently called for…