Controversies in Argentina's World Cup victories

Controversies in Argentina's World Cup victories

By Ori Martins

Obviously, Argentina is a super power in global football. The South American country has produced a galaxy of international soccer stars. Besides, Argentina is a home of football, producing soccer legends and winning the World Cup thrice and poised for a fourth title.

However, Argentina's World Cup glories have always been measured in controversies and dark clouds.

In 1978 Argentina played host to the rest of the world and eventually lifted the World Cup for the first time, but not without dents.

There was the allegation of match fixing with Peru in the crucial semi final stage of the 1978 World Cup Finals. For Argentina to effectively qualify for the final game, the host needed to beat Peru, at least, four un-replied goals. The match ended 6- 0 against Peru.

Enroute to that controversial encounter, during the first round stage, Peru beat Scotland 3-1, played goalless draw against The Netherlands before dismissing Iran, 4-1.

Peru later lost to Brazil 3-0, bowed 1-0 to Poland and then, lost 6-0 to Argentina. Various accounts of that game stated authoritatively that there were elements of match fixing in that second round encounter. Argentina needed to win Peru at least 4-0 to overtake Brazil on goal differences.

It was later discovered that the Peruvian goalkeeper was originally an Argentine by birth who decided to play for Peru, thus, it was alleged he had a hand in the suspected match fixing allegation.

The match fixing suspicion gained momentum when the Argentine military leader found his way to the Peruvian dressingroom and read a message of Argentina/ Peru solidarity which he hinged on "South American Understanding". Such a scandal had never happened in any World Cup game.

On the last day of the 1978 finals, Argentina deliberately came to the field late as the players and Argentine officials questioned and protested "the legality of a plaster cast worn by Dutch forward René van de Kerkhof". Thus, the Netherlands were not only frustrated, they were psychologically depressed even before the commencement of the game.

Piqued, the Netherlands refused to participate in all the post match activities, insisting they were robbed. In fact, the man widely considered as the greatest player in the world following the retirement of Pele from international football, Johan Cruyff, blatantly refused participating in the 1978 World Cup Finals in Argentina, arguing that there were clear indications that things would not go down well especially with gross human rights violations of the hosts military leader!

Eight years after, it was the turn of Maradona to dazzle the world with his Hand of God goal against England. It was a moment of sheer madness and football magic. What Maradona did against England in 1986 in Mexico was pure incredulity.

Some say it served England right following her equally misnomer in 1966 on home soil in the final against then West Germany. Yet, in 1986, Maradona was the biggest, most brilliant and most followed footballer in the world.

His second goal against England after the the Hand of God disaster was ajudged the best goal in football history by FIFA in 1999. Since then, it is doubtful if anyone has been credited with a better performance. But the issue of criminality still hovers on both Maradona and Argentina!

Before Argentina could win the War Cup there must be a Mario Kempes who scored two goals in the controversial 6-0 win against Peru(1978), Diego Maradona who got a goal with his hand against England (1986), or Lionel Messi who had penalties in almost all the games he played (2022/23). All three iconic footballers had their respective glorious moments amid controversies, dents and numerous questions unanswered.

Else, how would it have been possible that when Messi remarkably guided Argentina to World Cup glory, he handled the ball before a referee and got away with it in the quarter final against The Netherlands in 2022/3?

So far in 2026, numerous informed international football commentators have argued that Messi and Argentina are favourably treated, and they have given illustrations to their claims.

There are always controversies surrounding Argentina and World Cup glory, be it in 1978, 1986 or 2022/3, even, so far, in 2026!

urged FIFA to be neutral and professional in its execution of the semifinal and ultimately, the final game.

. Martins, a journalist, contributed this piece from Owerri