صحافة بلادي صحيفة إلكترونية مغاربية متجددة على مدار الساعة تعنى بشؤون المغرب الجزائر ليبيا موريتانيا تونس
Algeria –The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) refused to open an official investigation into the match between the Algerian national team and its Austrian counterpart at the conclusion of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, despite the widespread controversy sparked by the final minutes of the match, which observers considered lacking competitiveness after it ended with the two teams qualifying and Iran being eliminated.
The exciting draw (3-3), which was held at Kansas City Stadium on June 27, sparked a widespread wave of criticism, after the fans noticed a clear decline in rhythm in the last minutes, with the two teams relying on exchanging passes and retaining the ball, in light of their awareness that a draw is enough to guarantee passage to the round of 32.
A number of observers linked the scene to what was historically known as the “match of shame” between West Germany and Austria in the 1982 World Cup, which later prompted the adoption of holding the matches of the final round of the group stage at a unified time to avoid any calculations that serve two parties at the expense of a third team.
Despite the escalation of the controversy, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that there were no justifications that would require opening an investigation, considering that the match was competitive and that its result reflects the course of the match and the level of the two teams.
The match witnessed great excitement throughout its minutes, after the two teams exchanged goals, but attention turned to the last ten minutes, which aroused the dissatisfaction of the fans inside the stadium and on social media platforms, as many considered that the absence of offensive attempts harmed the image of the competition.
A number of sports analysts, including former Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, also expressed their sympathy for the Iranian team, which exited the tournament as a result of this tie, considering that the end was disappointing for football fans.
Despite the continued criticism, no official objection was issued by the Iranian Football Federation, while FIFA regulations confirm that opening an investigation into suspicions of tampering requires the presence of strong indicators or official complaints, which was not available in this case.
Source:“My press”
