A resurfaced interview featuring a former World Cup referee has reignited debate over officiating involving Lionel Messi and Argentina, as the defending champions continue their impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.
The comments, which relate to a Copa América match nearly two decades ago, have once again sparked discussion among football fans and analysts about referee decisions involving one of the sport’s biggest stars.
Argentina’s march through the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been one of the tournament’s biggest stories. The defending world champions remain in contention for another title after producing several dramatic performances on the field.
One of the team’s most memorable victories came in the Round of 16, where Argentina rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 with a remarkable late comeback.
While Argentina’s football has drawn widespread praise, discussion surrounding the team has also centered on several controversial refereeing decisions during the tournament.
Some supporters and commentators have questioned officiating decisions that they believe favored Argentina, including incidents involving captain Lionel Messi and several Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, reviews. Others argue that such decisions are part of the normal debate that accompanies high-profile international tournaments.
The latest discussion was triggered by the circulation of an interview with former Chilean referee Carlos Chandía, who officiated at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and previously served as a referee in international competitions.
In the interview, Chandía reflected on a 2007 Copa América semifinal between Argentina and Mexico. He said that, during the closing minutes of a match already decided on the scoreboard, he chose not to issue Messi a yellow card for a handball offense.
According to Chandía, a caution at that stage would have resulted in Messi being suspended for the tournament final. He also claimed that his decision ultimately affected his own opportunity to officiate that championship match.
The interview has recently resurfaced on social media, prompting renewed discussion about historic officiating decisions involving Argentina and Messi.
Despite the renewed attention, there has been no indication from FIFA that the remarks have any impact on the current World Cup or its officiating procedures.
FIFA has consistently maintained that referees are selected, trained, and evaluated under strict professional standards designed to ensure fairness and independence throughout international competitions.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s focus remains on its World Cup campaign as the team prepares for its next knockout-round challenge in pursuit of another world championship.
As debate continues online and among football analysts, the resurfaced comments have once again highlighted how decisions made years ago can continue to influence conversations surrounding the world’s biggest sporting events.
Berick Bilolo, Reporting for SNEWS TV.
