Thousands of outraged supporters from Argentina are demanding a replay of the FIFA World Cup Final, citing what they perceive as a “corrupt” officiating performance.
Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time during the tournament in New Jersey on Sunday.
Ferran Torres’ goal was pivotal for the dominant Spanish team, which consistently pressured the Argentine goal throughout the match.
The defending champions, Argentina, were unable to record a single shot on target during regulation time and were reduced to ten players after Enzo Fernández received a red card in the 93rd minute.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was kept under constant pressure before ultimately conceding to Torres’ shot in the 106th minute.
The defeat was met with strong emotions, leading to unsavory incidents at the final whistle. Leandro Paredes was observed kicking and punching as he pushed Eric Garcia to the ground and engaged with Gavi, while Nahuel Molina seemingly instigated the altercation by throwing a punch at Rodri, according to The Mirror.
Meanwhile, a petition demanding that the final be replayed has recorded over 82,000 signatures.
The petition’s author, Gisela Sanchez, argues that FIFA should annul the result based on the actions of Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic.
“The recent final between Argentina and Spain was marred by the controversial and corrupt actions of the referee who, as per video evidence, was allegedly bribed to sway the match’s outcome,” Sanchez states.
“This is a significant disappointment for the players, coaches, and, most importantly, for the fans who wish to witness a game determined by skill and commitment on the field, rather than by manipulated officiating decisions.
“If we permit corruption to go unchecked on such a prominent platform, we are setting a detrimental precedent for future generations of athletes and supporters.
“Thus, we urge FIFA to examine these events with seriousness and transparency, and to contemplate replaying the final – this time free from the influence of a corrupt referee.”
However, another petition on Change.org is calling on FIFA to prohibit Argentina from participating in future competitions.
One petition advocating for the team’s removal from all forthcoming World Cups garnered over 29 million signatures before its closure.
Vincic, the referee of the World Cup final match, blew for 46 infractions, with 25 of those committed by players from Argentina.
Fernández was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the second half – one for dissent after a free-kick was denied and another for a reckless tackle on Pau Cubarsi.
The match progressed in a fragmented manner due to Argentina’s disruptive tactics, yet Spain eventually managed to score during extra time. FIFA is currently reviewing the behavior of Argentina’s players following the match, which faced significant criticism.