FIFA President Gianni Infantino has become a focal point of conspiracy theories circulating online, with fans alleging bias towards Argentina in the ongoing World Cup. Memes and social media discussions suggest that FIFA and Infantino are actively working to ensure Argentina wins the tournament.
These suspicions have been fueled by several controversial decisions throughout the competition. One incident cited involves an early tackle by Argentina's captain Lionel Messi on Algeria's Aissa Mandi. While Messi received only a free kick, some refereeing experts argued the studs-up challenge could have warranted a red card. The Algerian FA subsequently filed a complaint with FIFA regarding this and other refereeing decisions.
Further controversy arose in Argentina's match against Austria, where midfielder Alexis Mac Allister's foul was not penalized, and VAR did not review the incident. Messi scored both goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory. In another game against Cape Verde, Messi attempted a quick free kick while the opposing goalkeeper was still organizing his defense, and a referee reportedly delayed a Cape Verde corner until an injured Argentine player returned to the field.
The most significant controversy involved a VAR intervention that disallowed Egypt a goal in their round-of-16 match against Argentina. Egypt's coach expressed frustration, suggesting pressure on referees to keep Argentina, and by extension Messi, in the competition.
Additionally, VAR overturned a yellow card for Argentine player Leandro Paredes after he tripped a Swiss player. While the VAR's judgment that the Swiss player went down too easily was widely accepted, the resulting yellow card led to the Swiss player's expulsion due to an earlier caution, a decision critics questioned as overly harsh in a crucial match.
These incidents have led to accusations of a pattern, with similar claims of favorable officiating surfacing during Argentina's previous World Cup victories in 1978, 1986, and 2022. The 1978 win was shadowed by unproven allegations of a deal with Peru, while Maradona's infamous handball goal against England in 1986 is still debated. In 2022, Argentina was awarded a record number of penalties, and certain fouls by Argentine players went unpunished.
Beyond on-field decisions, theories suggest political motivations may be at play. Some speculate that a second consecutive World Cup win for Argentina would benefit Donald Trump, who has publicly shown admiration for Messi and his club. Trump is slated to present the World Cup trophy alongside Infantino, and it is suggested he would prefer to award it to Messi over a player like French captain Kylian Mbappe, who has been vocal on political matters. Infantino has previously presented Trump with a FIFA Peace Prize and is reported to have influenced a decision on player Folarin Balogun's eligibility for the US team after a call from Trump.
FIFA has consistently denied allegations of bias, stating that such claims can endanger referees. However, the recurring controversies and the intertwining of commercial and political interests continue to fuel suspicions around the governing body and its leadership.