World Cup final referee responds to claims Argentina's goal should have been disallowed

The referee who took charge of the World Cup final has responded to claims that Argentina's third and final goal should have been disallowed.

Lionel Messi scored his second to make it 3-2 in the 108th minute of the final at the Lusail Stadium, bundling the ball over the line and past Jules Kounde after Lautaro Martinez's shot was parried by Hugo Lloris.

Argentina would go on to beat France 4-2 on penalties, with Gonzalo Montiel scoring the winner to redeem himself after giving away a spot-kick that Kylian Mbappe converted.

But many felt as though Messi's second goal ought to have been chalked off as images showed some of Argentina's substitutes were already on the pitch before the ball had crossed the line.

IFAB's laws say that "the referee must disallow the goal if the extra person was: the referee must disallow the goal if the extra person was: a player, substitute, substituted player, sent-off player or team official of the team that scored the goal; play is restarted with a direct free kick from the position of the extra person."

Argentina subs on the pitch before the ball went in, any rule on this #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/NSCFIgxxhI

— Ian Corcorān🔰 (@IanCorcoran_) December 18, 2022

L'Equipe, one of the biggest newspapers in France, vented over the "illegal" call. However, Szymon Marciniak, the man in the middle, has hit back.

Marciniak, who received praise for his performance on the big stage, staged a media conference and took out his phone to show an image of SEVEN France players on the pitch when Mbappe found the net.

He said: "The French didn't mention this photo, where you can see how there are seven Frenchmen on the pitch when Mbappé scores a goal.”

Szymon Marciniak, the referee for the World Cup Final, has responded to @lequipe’s criticism that Lionel Messi’s second goal shouldn’t have counted:

"The French didn't mention this photo, where you can see how there are seven Frenchmen on the pitch when Mbappé scores a goal.” pic.twitter.com/MW6y73iiLN

— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) December 23, 2022

Still, people in France are still not taking the defeat very well and a petition set up demanding the final be replayed has accrued over 200,000 signatures at the time of writing.

The MesOpinions user claims Argentina's penalty shouldn't have stood and that Mbappe was fouled for Angel Di Maria's goal to make it 2-0.

The user wrote: "The arbitration was totally sold, there was never a penalty + fault on MBAPPE on the 2nd goal!!!

"Sign and share en masse for the match to be replayed!"

There's absolutely no chance of that happening, however, and Argentina have been celebrating becoming world champions for the third time, ending 36 years of hurt.

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