A small incident involving the referee during halftime became a subject of active discussion online, sparking new theories about possible collusion in the World Cup in Argentina.
According to The Mirror, English fans noticed a video after Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final played at Atlanta Stadium. Some viewers felt that Lionel Messi appeared overly friendly towards the match officials.
One fan on social media claimed that Messi was trying to 'persuade the referee,' while another wrote that he was 'directing the game.' This situation has a background: Ismail El-Fatt is a referee in the Major League and has officiated four Inter Miami matches involving Messi. Furthermore, he served as the fourth official in the 2022 World Cup final, where Argentina beat France.
Theorists claim that Messi won all league matches when El-Fatt was appointed as the referee. These rumors spread quickly among disgruntled users, even if they are not proof of anything more sinister than fans noticing a pattern and immediately jumping to a conclusion.
The match itself also provided many reasons for criticism. According to available data, there were 19 fouls and no shots on goal in the first half. In total, the entire match ended with 26 fouls and four cards: three for Argentina and one for England.
Another viral clip shows Messi seemingly grabbing Jude Bellingham by the head, and referee El-Fatt issued no punishment. English fans even compared this to rugby tactics. Bellingham later softened his assessment of the first-half incident with Messi, stating that they were discussing a foul, and that 'it wasn't anything bad.' He added: 'I thought there was a foul earlier, and he asked: 'what about what was on me?', and I said: 'you are strong enough to take it,' you understand?'
There were other complaints: allegedly Messi clipped Jadon Sancho's leg before Argentina's goal, Enzo Fernandez avoided an early warning after contact with Elliot Anderson, and old complaints about VAR decisions favoring Argentina. It is important to note the word 'allegedly.' Online claims of tournament fixing are not equivalent to evidence, and much of it is just football outrage dressed up in a detective's hat.
South Africans watching the final on Sunday know this scheme. As soon as a match is presented as a conspiracy, every whistle becomes evidence, and every lack of whistle becomes a government document. Argentina advanced to the final, England was eliminated, and the internet will remain the VAR assistant.
After a two-week break, Formula 1 returns with a double round before the mid-season break. Drivers travel to Belgium for one of the most anticipated weekends on the calendar, at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with activities scheduled for July 17th and 19th.
The championship has reached its tenth stage, and spectators have been watching an intense battle for the title for 14 years. Although Mercedes is seen as a favorite due to the presence of its two drivers, Kimi Antonelli, with 179 points, and George Russell, with 154 points, occupy the leading positions, Ferrari remains in the fight with Lewis Hamilton, who has accumulated 147 points and aims for his eighth title.
Despite the positive prospects for the leading teams, a driver from the papaya team suffered a ten-place drop in the starting grid for the Belgian GP. Lando Norris, the current champion of the category, received a penalty from the FIA because McLaren announced the installation of the fourth power unit in their car, exceeding the regulatory limit.
In addition to the change in the power unit, both MCL40 cars will receive a new rear wing. The situation of Oscar Piastri, Norris's teammate, is not considered serious, as this is only the third replacement for the Australian driver this season, remaining within the limit stipulated by the FIA. Red Bull also implemented a modification at Spa: the team removed the 'Macarena' wing from the RB22 after this component caused several run-offs with Max Verstappen, opting to return to the original configuration until the mechanical problem is resolved.
During the first free practice session this Friday, Red Bull demonstrated good performance. After withdrawing from the race in Silverstone, Max Verstappen led the team to the top of the Belgian GP TL1, recording a time of 1min47s070. Ferrari completed the top 3 with a pair, placing Lewis Hamilton second and Charles Leclerc third.
Since 1950, Spa-Francorchamps has been recognized as the largest circuit on the calendar, boasting just over 7.004 kilometers in length. The track is known for its high speeds, unstable weather, and for hosting one of the most emblematic sections of Formula 1: the descent of Eau Rouge followed by the climb of Raidillon.
The weekend will follow the traditional format, comprising three free practice sessions, qualifying on Saturday, and the race on Sunday, which will feature 44 laps. The text also mentions the schedule for the Formula 1 Austrian GP, informing that in Brazil it will be broadcast by Globo on open TV, while the free practices, qualifying, and the race will be available on Sportv and F1 TV.
The coach of the Banyana Banyana national team, Disari Ellis, emphasized the importance of smart squad management in the upcoming Wafcon tournament, which will take place in Morocco at the end of this month. She stressed that the team will strive to control the process of integrating new players into the squad.
Ellis has approved the final list of 26 players who will represent the country at Wafcon. Although most senior players are returning for another major tournament, there are also several relatively young faces in the squad.
The decision by the 63-year-old coach was understandable, as Banyana aims not only to compensate for last year's disappointing fourth place but also to ensure a confident spot in the top four for qualification to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
After the announcement of the squad and the farewell meeting of the team at the headquarters of the main sponsor, Sasol, in Sandton on Friday afternoon, Ellis noted the presence of several players under the age of 23. These include Asanda (Khadebe), Kebotseng (Moletsane), Zoe (October), Isabella (Ludwig), and Antonia (Maponya). These players are participating in Wafcon for the first time, although they were previously part of the team.
Ellis warned that the tournament is not just Wafcon, but also a qualifier for the World Cup, and she noted that some countries are already preparing for it in Morocco, demonstrating a serious approach.
An example of a player who had to wait for their chance in the main squad at a major tournament is Noksolo Sesane. This is why Ellis insists on not making hasty decisions. She stated: 'We do not want to break the spirit of a young player.' She recalled how Nox started playing; she had to work hard before getting a chance in the Cosafa.
The senior players include Robin Mudali-Salgado, who is returning after a break in 2023 to work on mental health, as well as Thembi Kgatlana, who missed the last major match due to personal circumstances.
Ellis expressed satisfaction with the preparation of local players gathered in camp this week. She believes that players based abroad, including Kgatlana, will easily fit into the team when they join her base in Casablanca.
The coach emphasized that underestimating the team will lead to problems. She added that the group of players knows that opponents do everything possible when playing against Banyana. Ellis clarified that for other teams, this is the final, but for them, the first game is important, and they are focusing on achieving a positive result in it. At the same time, they need to manage the squad on the way to an important quarter-final for World Cup qualification. After that, the team will consider the semi-finals and the final. She also mentioned that five players are in reserve and ready to play because they trained with the team.
Banyana plans to continue preparations on Sunday or Monday, and on Saturday, they will leave South African shores to play in the first group match against Tanzania next Monday.
As predictions for the 2026 World Cup final are actively discussed on global sports networks, it has become clear that for many fans, the upcoming match between Spain and Argentina goes beyond just a beautiful game and national pride.
Thanks to discussions on social media, videos, and memes, thousands of viewers worldwide have stated that for them, Sunday's final is a kind of referendum on political solidarity in support of Palestine amid the ongoing genocide of Israel in Gaza. One X user noted that the match represents a confrontation of 'Pro-Palestine versus Pro-Israel.'
Tension had been building before the game, as Argentina faced online opposition from people who consider the reigning world champion linked to Israel due to close political ties between the countries. Argentine President Javier Milei stated that he is 'sincerely proud to be the most Zionist president in the world.'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly expressed support for Argentina thanks to Milei last week in a podcast, calling him 'a great friend of Israel.' Meanwhile, Israeli politicians took to social media on Wednesday to mark Argentina's semi-final triumph over England.
On the other hand, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is widely recognized as one of the loudest supporters of Palestine in Europe. Under his leadership, Spain officially recognized the State of Palestine in 2024, imposed an arms embargo on Israel, and constantly demands a ceasefire in Gaza.
Some fans have focused on the players themselves. Several users on social media shared a viral video where Spanish football prodigy Lamine Yamal waved the Palestinian flag during the Barcelona La Liga parade in May. This contrasted with the national symbol of Argentina, Lionel Messi, who has spoken little about Palestine or Israel. Others point out that the football legend made deals with Israeli companies.
Moreover, many fans circulated photos of the Barcelona 'Peace Tour' in 2013 in Israel and Palestine, where Messi, then a Catalan club player, met with Netanyahu and then-Israeli President Shimon Peres and was photographed at the Western Wall. Although these pictures were actively promoted by official Israeli channels, causing negative reactions among Palestine supporters, many fans note that Messi also visited the occupied West Bank and met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the same trip, arguing that he cannot be blamed for the official team visit.
Palestine often becomes a central theme during World Cup matches. Notably, some Argentine fans showed the Israeli flag to Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan, who celebrated his country's advancement to the World Cup playoffs, while wearing the Palestinian flag on the field.
During Spain's 2-0 victory over France in the semi-final, Spanish actor Oscar Javier Bardem was recorded at the stadium receiving the Palestinian flag from a fan. When he was handed the flag and asked if he had a message to the Palestinian people, Bardem placed his hand on his heart and replied: 'Existence is resistance.' Bardem confirmed that 'Spain supports Palestine' in a separate video during the Spain vs. Portugal round of 16 match.
Besides concerns about Palestine, Argentina also faced criticism for alleged FIFA bias in its favor. This international wave of indignation prompted some Argentinians to take to social media to emphasize broad public solidarity with Palestine and clarify that the president's stance does not reflect the opinion of the people. Other Argentine fans objected to the simplified view of the final, providing information that long before Spain, in 2010, Argentina, under President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, recognized Palestine as a 'free and independent state.' Diab Abu Jajja, president of the Hind Rajab Foundation, wrote on Wednesday: 'Sport has always been intertwined with politics, and always will be. But reality is more complex.' He added: 'Argentina is not Israel. Argentina is not Zionist. It cannot be reduced to any ideological camp... On Sunday, I will still support Spain, thanks to the sincere gratitude for this clear solidarity. But I will not approach the match as a fanatic or an ideologue. If Argentina plays as brilliantly as today, they deserve to win.'
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