As reported by Sportschau, ARD referee expert Lutz Wagner has drawn an interim conclusion after the first round of group matches at the 2026 World Cup. The focus was on two controversial incidents: a foul on Kylian Mbappé and a kick by Lionel Messi.
In the match between France and Senegal, Sadio Mané brought down Mbappé in the penalty area. Referee Alireza Faghani (Iran) initially let play continue, but the VAR intervened. After reviewing the images on the monitor, Faghani stuck with his decision: no penalty. The incident, which occurred with the score at 0-0, had no decisive impact on the game – Mbappé scored shortly afterward and bagged a brace to secure France’s 3-1 victory.
Foul: Red Would Have Been the Better Decision
Much more discussion was sparked by an incident in the match between Argentina and Algeria. Lionel Messi kicked his opponent Aissa Mandi from behind in the calf and Achilles tendon. Referee Szymon Marciniak (Poland) only issued a warning, and the VAR did not intervene. Messi, who had earlier scored the 1-0 goal, remained on the field and added two more goals to make the final score 3-0.
Wagner views the decision critically. “Messi’s foul does not look nearly as serious in normal speed as it does in slow motion. But there it becomes clear: red would have been the better decision because two out of three criteria are met,” explained the former referee. The ball was no longer playable, and the point of contact – above the ankle with the sole – indicated a red card. Only the third criterion was not met, as Messi did not foul with high speed or force and probably not intentionally either.
New Rules: Countdown and Water Breaks
FIFA has introduced several rule changes for the 2026 World Cup, including a five-second countdown to increase net playing time. The rule applies when goalkeepers hold the ball too long, as well as for throw-ins and goal kicks. Wagner’s interim conclusion is positive: “The players are paying close attention, so it hasn’t been sanctioned yet.”
In addition, the video assistant’s authority has been expanded, and mandatory water breaks have been introduced. The new rules are intended to make the game smoother and fairer – a goal that, according to Wagner’s assessment, has been achieved so far.
Source: www.sportschau.de
