<h2>Draw deal for Argentina</h2>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/argentina-produce-epic-world-cup-fightback-to-beat-egypt-reach-quarters-23638705" rel="nofollow">World No. 2 Argentina</a></strong> faced little-known Cape Verde in the round of 32 after which they took on World No. 24 Egypt in the round of 16 and next meet World No. 14 Switzerland in the quarter-finals.</p>
<p><strong>SMAR decision: </strong>Argentina has been deliberately handed an easy World Cup draw by FIFA.</p>
<h2>Messi doesn&rsquo;t see red</h2>
<p>Argentina&rsquo;s opening match against Algeria was all about Messi&rsquo;s hat-trick that saw him equal the record for the most World Cup goals.</p>
<p><strong>SMAR decision: </strong>Messi should have got a red card for stabbing his studs into the right calf of Egypt&rsquo;s Aissa Mandi in the 32nd minute.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>FIFA boss backing Argentina</h2>
<p>After Argentina beat a gritty Cape Verde 3-2 in a thriller, FIFA president Gianni Infantino told an Argentine TV channel that he suffered with them during the match, before clarifying that he spoke as a neutral.</p>
<p><strong>SMAR decision: </strong>This proves FIFA President Gianni Infantino&rsquo;s love for Messi and bias towards Argentina.</p>
<h2>The gift of penalties</h2>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/leos-champs-stretched-in-messy-win-23638270" rel="nofollow">Lionel Messi</a></strong> became the first player to miss two penalties in the same World Cup after failing to score from the spot in the round-of-16 match against Egypt, and before that, in the group stage match against Austria.</p>
<p><strong>SMAR decision: </strong>Messi is frequently gifted penalties by referees to protect him from fouls as per instructions from FIFA.</p>
<h2>Argentine referees to help Morocco</h2>
<p>FIFA has appointed five Argentine referees for the quarter-final between France and Morocco.</p>
<p><strong>SMAR decision: </strong>This is because FIFA wants Morocco to win so that Argentina does not have to face the mighty France in the final.</p>

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As the World Cup hits fever pitch, the Video Assistant Referee is being slammed by Social Media Assistant Referees, claiming Lionel Messi’s defending champions Argentina are being favoured. mid-day enlists some SMAR decisions based on conspiracy theories

FIFA World Cup 2026: Move over VAR, here comes SMAR!

Draw deal for Argentina

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Home / Sports / Football / Article / FIFA World Cup 2026: Move over VAR, here comes SMAR!

FIFA World Cup 2026: Move over VAR, here comes SMAR!

Draw deal for Argentina

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