A fresh controversy has emerged in the wake of Argentina’s thrilling World Cup victory over France as two Argentinian substitutes appeared to step on the field before Lionel Messi scored his second of the game.
Messi was on his toes in the box to convert from close range after France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had done well to keep out Lautaro Martinez’s effort.
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Although Messi’s effort didn’t reach the back of the net, it clearly went over the line before French defender Jules Kounde could clear the ball away.
However, renowned French publication L’Equipebelieved they had cold, hard evidence the 2018 champs may have been hard done by.
Before Messi could steer his second goal home, two Argentinian players — described by L’Equipe as two “emotionally-charged substitutes” — briefly made their way onto the field of play in anticipation of Martinez scoring past Lloris.
In an article published the morning after the game, L’Equipe quoted the laws of the game as proof of why Argentina’s third goal should not have stood.
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According to Law Three, Paragraph Nine in the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) Laws of the Game, it states: “If, after a goal is scored, the referee realises, before play restarts, that an extra person — a player, substituted player, sent-off player or team official of the team that scored the goal — was on the field of play when the goal was scored, the referee must disallow the goal”.
Play would then restart with a direct free kick from the position of the extra person, so in this instance, France would have got a free kick right in front of Argentina’s bench.
Thankfully for La Albiceleste, Polish referee Szymon Marciniak was unaware and the substitutes’ encroachment was not picked up by VAR either.
Messi’s goal gifted Argentinaa hard-earned 3-2 lead in the second half of extra time, but the clash went to penalties after Kylian Mbappe equalised from the spot in the 118th minute to complete his hat-trick.
Argentina would go on to win the shootout 4-2 and subsequently take home World Cup for the first time since 1986 to cement Messi’s legacy, as Les Bleus were left to rue what could have been.