French newspaper calls for Messi's extra time to be canceled
In the 108th minute, Lautaro Martinez finished at a tight angle. French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris pushed away, and Messi was at the right place to kick back, helping Argentina lead 3-2. But before the Argentine captain finished, two of his teammates ran from the bench into the field, celebrating Martinez's missed goal.
L'Equipe quoted Article 9, Rule 3 of the FIFA Rules of Football to argue that the referee should not recognize Argentina's goal. This passage reads: "After a goal, if the referee realizes that someone has entered the field from outside before the goal is scored then: The referee must cancel the goal if the person entering from outside is a player, the alternative So the player was sent off, a member of the team's coaching staff scored."
The French newspaper said that, instead of recognizing Argentina's goal, Polish referee Szymon Marciniak should give France a free kick. On social networks, many French fans also shared that FIFA did not comply with the law in this situation.
However, according to the latest version of football rules, applicable to the 2022-2023 season issued by the International Football Association (IFAB), the above goal of Argentina is valid because the referee only has to intervene if People from outside entering the field affect the course of the match.
"If the ball is in the net and outside interference does not prevent the defending player from contesting the ball, the goal will be awarded," the rules read.
From Brazil, the daily Globo also supports this view, and cites a similar situation that occurred in the Copa Libertadores 2020, in the match between Palmeiras and Atletico-MG. At that time, the reserve striker Deyverson entered the field while Gabriel Veron made a cross for Dudu to score for Palmeiras.
Atletico-MG then appealed to the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), but was denied by the Head of Disciplinary and Complaints Eduardo Gross Brown. In fact, even during the match, the VAR referees checked whether Deyverson interfered with the ball before conceding the goal.
