Furious England fans have pointed to a new camera angle that they claim shows Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez should have been sent off in the third minute of a recent match against England. Fernandez, who scored the equalizer for Argentina in the 85th minute, and later saw Lautaro Martinez score the winning goal in the 92nd minute, could have fundamentally altered the game's outcome had he been penalized.
In the opening minutes of the match, Fernandez was involved in a heavy challenge with Elliot Anderson, leaving the England player clutching the back of his neck. Anderson required a minute or two to recover, and the incident sparked a coming together of players from both sides. Referee Ismail Elfath did not issue a card for the challenge. However, extended replays suggest Fernandez made contact with Anderson's neck with his elbow and that the tackle lacked clear intent to play the ball.
This incident, which some fans and reports suggest could have been a red card offense, was not the only moment of contention involving Fernandez. He was also involved in a challenge on Jude Bellingham near the Argentina penalty area minutes later, for which he also avoided punishment. It was Anderson who received the match's first yellow card for reacting to persistent tackles by lashing out at Lionel Messi.
Social media was abuzz with fan reactions, with many expressing disbelief that Fernandez was not carded, let alone sent off. "Enzo Fernandez punched Anderson in the head and DIDN'T EVEN GET A YELLOW CARD. It was a RED. BUT KEEP ROBBING US, THIEVES," one user posted. Another commented, "Enzo Fernandez has elbowed Anderson in the head, pushed Bellingham, and now fouled Bellingham in a good area, and still hasn't been booked. Where did the World Cup find this ref from." The lack of a VAR review for the initial challenge also drew criticism.
Beyond the on-field controversy, tensions between the two nations were amplified post-match. Jubilant Argentina players were seen unfurling a homemade banner supporting their claim to the Falkland Islands, a move that contravenes FIFA's regulations against political displays. This act followed a period where Argentine fans and officials had intensified rhetoric regarding the archipelago. The Falklands War in 1982 resulted in 907 deaths, including 255 British servicemen. Britain has maintained a presence on the islands since 1833, while Argentina declared independence in 1816.
Further altercations occurred after the final whistle. Tottenham captain Cristian Romero and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez were seen near the banner, alongside former Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso. Unused Argentine substitute Valentin Barco also appeared to exchange words with England's Jude Bellingham, leading to a heated exchange where Bellingham was seen to react physically. Nicolas Otamendi then intervened to confront Bellingham.
England had taken the lead in the 55th minute through an Anthony Gordon goal. However, late defensive substitutions by manager Tuchel were seen by some, including former World Cup winner Iker Casillas, as a "cowardly approach" that allowed Argentina to gain momentum and ultimately secure the win.