Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has dismissed claims of FIFA favouritism towards the defending champions in the ongoing FIFA World Cup. Scaloni stated that such allegations are not new and instead serve as additional motivation for his players.
Speaking before Argentina’s quarter-final match against Switzerland, Scaloni indicated that the criticism surrounding his team has only strengthened their resolve as they pursue a second consecutive World Cup title.
Addressing Favouritism Allegations
The debate regarding Argentina allegedly receiving favourable treatment from FIFA has gained traction during the tournament, particularly on social media platforms. This discussion intensified following Argentina’s Round of 16 victory over Egypt.
During that match, an Egyptian goal was disallowed after a VAR review, and another penalty appeal from Egypt was dismissed. These decisions drew criticism from Egypt’s coaching staff and some supporters, who questioned the officiating.
Some fans have also suggested that FIFA has a commercial interest in keeping Lionel Messi and Argentina in the competition. However, these claims remain opinions and are not verified facts.
Scaloni rejected these accusations, suggesting that the scrutiny stems from Argentina’s status as reigning world champions. He noted that the team might face more opposition due to their previous victory.
“The thing is, we might have a lot more people who don’t want us to win because we won the last one, and well, we take that into account. And yeah, it gets to the players. We use criticism or comments to rebel. To stage a rebellion and make the players play even better,” Scaloni told reporters.
Historical Context and VAR Defence
The Argentina boss also highlighted that similar allegations have followed his country for decades, including during their 1986 World Cup triumph. He mentioned that claims of favouritism were made even back then, indicating that it is not a new phenomenon.
“It’s been a long time, 40 years as you just said, since 1986, right? They were saying we were favoured back then, too. So it’s not something new. As far back as I can remember, Argentina has always been one of the teams that stir up the tournament, always,” Scaloni explained.
He added that this perception is used to motivate the players, showing them that there are individuals who do not wish for Argentina to win, which he considers normal, similar to how some might not want other national teams to succeed.
Scaloni also defended the role of VAR, asserting that the technology leaves minimal room for manipulation. He stressed that with VAR, it is very difficult for officials to unfairly assist a team, as there is no double interpretation.
“I think with VAR and all these things, it’s very hard for them to help you. Very hard, very hard. There’s no double interpretation with VAR. Plus, they made it crystal clear to us in that course they gave us before the World Cup started. They showed us all the footage. This is how it’s going to be, it’s going to be like this, like that. And it’s been followed to the letter,” he stated.
Argentina is set to continue their title defence when they face Switzerland in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter