Nikhil Naz, a well-known Indian sports journalist, regularly faces trolling on social media following television discussions, especially during matches between rivals such as India and Pakistan in the Cricket World Cups.
Conflict surrounding the Argentina vs Egypt match
However, last Wednesday, Naz was struck by the intensity of negative comments after his discussion with other panelists during the controversial FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and Egypt. Naz, who covered the Qatar World Cup in 2022, expressed opinions on the referee and the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system, explaining why the match officials faced harsh criticism, including doubts about their integrity.
He noted that after the team of Argentina, inspired by Lionel Messi, managed to come back into the game after trailing 2-0 in the 79th minute and scoring three goals in 14 dramatic minutes to win the tense Round of 16 match, none of the referees' decisions were incorrect according to FIFA rules. Naz emphasized that regarding the illegal foul on an Argentine player before the Egyptian goal, which was disallowed in the second half, the referee did not see the infringement; the notification came from VAR officials, after which the goal was overturned.
Analysis of controversial moments
The journalist also analyzed the incident involving Mohamed Salah, stating that upon close examination, it is visible that he lost control of the ball, and when he fell, the ball was already out of his control. He concluded that the defender took the ball, and Salah tripped over his own foot, which is a minor contact, not a foul, so Salah did not even claim a penalty because he understood he fell on his own.
Claims from Egyptian players only began after Argentina scored. Despite the fact that discussing such subtle moments in sports is his job, it often attracts a wave of trolls, especially when India and Pakistan face off in World Cups. However, his comments on controversial moments in the Football World Cup led fans to start calling him a Messi fan masquerading as a journalist.
The role of the Messi and Ronaldo rivalry
Part of the narrative that FIFA and referees always favor Argentina is the two-decade-long rivalry between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the so-called race for the greatest player of all time (GOAT). This rivalry became the main reason for the severe trolling Naz experienced last Wednesday, the intensity of which was almost as high as the insults he receives during India-Pakistan cricket matches.
Naz noted that although India is not a football powerhouse, many Indians watch football, and Messi and Ronaldo are widely known names. He added that the entire country went crazy when Messi visited India earlier this year, and he is confident the same thing will happen if Ronaldo ever visits India.
Geography of trolling and expert opinions
Trolls also caught Naz's attention when he reviewed the comments. Most people who insulted him had photos of Ronaldo or emblems of 'Real Madrid' or 'Manchester United' on their social media pages—clubs where Ronaldo was famously played. Notably, there was one key difference: trolling during India-Pakistan cricket matches was limited to the northern and northwestern parts of India, whereas the Argentina-Egypt debate, provoked by the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry, was 'evenly distributed'. Naz reported that eastern parts of the country, such as the northeastern states, were also significantly involved.
Returning to the alleged bias of FIFA in favor of Argentina, Naz was surprised that not many experts and fans discussed other controversial VAR decisions at the World Cup with the same force. He mentioned several other incidents, such as Josko Guardiola's disallowed goal against Portugal due to slight contact, or Harry Kane's unawarded penalty in the match against Congo. He also mentioned the penalty awarded to Belgium against Senegal, which caused controversy and deprived Senegal of a chance to win in a penalty shootout.
Naz concluded that despite numerous issues, nothing generated as much resonance as the Argentina-Egypt match. He believes there are either Messi fans or his opponents. He admits that FIFA has never achieved glory, but claiming they clearly favor one team over another is an exaggeration. He also pointed out that if FIFA constantly wished for Argentina's victory, the penalty in the 2022 World Cup final would not have been awarded to France, given that Argentina was leading in that match, yet two penalties were awarded specifically to France.
Conclusion on conspiracy theories
Thus, Naz concludes that there is no substantial evidence to claim that FIFA favors Argentina or Messi; it is essentially a conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theories about FIFA and Argentina gained momentum after South Americans won the 2022 World Cup, and Messi finally lifted the trophy that had long eluded Ronaldo.
Alejandro Magdaleno, an experienced Argentine sports journalist covering the 2026 World Cup, stated that Messi does not need external help to prove his status as one of the greatest players of all time. He noted that Messi earns his advantages himself and continues to prove it at the 2026 World Cup, scoring eight goals in five matches despite conceding two penalties awarded for clear fouls.
Jorge Ferrari, an experienced Argentine photographer from the UAE, believes that people's opinions should not be taken seriously. He stressed that the problem with these conspiracy theories is that they cannot be proven, and there is no evidence that FIFA favored Argentina or Messi. He also expressed sympathy to Nikhil Naz for the online aggression following his comments on the VAR decisions in the Argentina-Egypt match, noting that the level of hatred he receives is simply foolish and sad because 'it's just a game after all'. Ferrari, being Argentinian, loves Messi but also values Ronaldo, arguing that those who love one and hate the other are not true football fans, and calls on fans to appreciate both incredible talents that sport has given to the world.
