World Cup 2022: World champion Argentina in luck – second goal by Lionel Messi should not have counted

By the time French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saved a Lautaro Martinez shot in the 109th minute, two Argentinian substitutes were already on the field.

According to the regulations, this is not allowed. Rule 3, Paragraph 9 of the FIFA Rules of Football states:

“If, after a goal has been scored, before play restarts, the referee determines that another person was on the field of play at the time the shot was taken, the referee must disallow the goal if the additional person: a player, substitute, substituted player, off the field expelled player or team official.”

If the Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, who was praised for his excellent management, had noticed the substitutes on the field, he would have had to disallow the goal.

L’Equipe explains and praises the quality of the final

The rules also state: “The game must be restarted with a direct free kick from the spot where the additional person was.”

The French sports newspaper “L’Equipe” enlightened its readers on Monday with the line “Why Argentina’s third goal shouldn’t have been recognised”.

But that is not a reason for the defeat of the French. Rather, the authors of the renowned newspaper were impressed by the legendary final: “Six goals, an adventurous ending, undoubtedly the most beautiful final in the history of the World Cup.”

However, according to the tastes of “L’Equipe”, the scenario could have been “less crazy”.