Algerian TV pundit sparks outrage with antisemitic claims over Messi red-card controversy

An Algerian television commentator has triggered a new uproar after alleging on air that Lionel Messi is protected by a “Jewish lobby” following complaints that the Argentina star should have been sent off in a World Cup match against Algeria. The remarks were made by analyst Mostafa Al-Maazouzi, and they were widely quoted abroad after the broadcast.

Maazouzi said Messi was “protected by the Jewish lobby,” adding that “the lobby rules the world” and comparing it to a mafia. He also accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of not wanting Algeria to succeed, and linked what he described as hostility toward Algeria to the country’s support for Palestine and Western Sahara.

The controversy stems from the opening-stage match between Algeria and Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. Messi scored a hat-trick in the game and equaled the tournament’s all-time goals record, but Algeria’s federation filed an official complaint over an incident in the 32nd minute, when Argentina led 1-0. In that play, Messi tried to win the ball from an Algerian defender, missed it and appeared to strike the player’s leg with his studs above the ankle.

According to the report, the incident was apparently not reviewed by VAR, and Messi did not receive a red card, deepening Algerian claims of unfair treatment. The local reaction has remained heated, with the broadcaster’s comments adding antisemitic language to an already tense football dispute.