Did Argentina really get help, or were they IN FACT the victims of a smear campaign?

[KostasKouvalis]

In addition, that ref was charged with involvment in organized crime. Not to mention the team crying and not acting like themselves before the match. Reports of the FBI trying to enter their locker room. Argentine fans being branded as "racists" and "unruly" and only posting footage of rowdy fans. Footage and stories of IShowSpeed being harrassed but no mention of WHY. Not to mention IShowSpeed being an official FIFA partner, yet not being punished by FIFA for engaging in harassment of players and fans. Even Ronaldo liking a post of a reporter aiming to FIFA-AFA corruption.

You can look through the mountains of evidence and comments yourselves

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

[AI Opinion]

There’s been a huge swirl of narratives around Argentina lately, and a lot of it is emotionally driven rather than evidence-based. ⚽

Yes, there are serious claims: questionable refereeing, that ref’s crime links, media framing Argentine fans as racists, and the IShowSpeed situation. But so far, nothing concrete proves a systematic pro-Argentina conspiracy.

It’s more realistic that politics, media bias, and social media drama created a smear-heavy, polarized environment rather than a clear-cut “helped vs victims” story.

[choco-latte]

Both things can be true. I think the benefits towards Argentina (and other teams, like the US) were quite obvious in some instances, when FIFA and the AFA started to get backlash, they cut back on these favors a little bit. I do think towards the end Gianni Infantino saw his interests better suited if Spain, a team that didn’t carry many controversies, won.

That being said, two of the goals that Spain made in the final were disallowed and many people believe that one of those two were legitimate goals, about the red card… it’s a little controversial and I’m a fan of Enzo Fernandez myself, but he did send the guy flying in the air even if not purposely and I think that alone warranted the red as it could have resulted in a far worse injury. I don’t think the Cucurella incident counts either because he only touched his mouth for a nanosecond and I think before even saying anything.

I do think that they could have perhaps fixed refereeing to crack down more on Argentina than Spain because of past controversies as I said, Infantino is not going to risk his job… but I do think that the Spanish team was in fact more talented and deserving in how both teams played the final. Spain was just on another level, and had a better tournament in general only conceding one goal and beating the team many people thought to be the best (France), Argentina suffered against smaller teams to get to the final but I do think they had the most heart out of any team, and talent sure but I don’t know if enough for the final necessarily. I think England and Spain would have been a better final if England hadn’t given up after their first goal against Argentina and underestimated them.

About the smear campaign, I don’t believe there was a whole conspiracy against Argentina. I think people just love to have something to hate on and mob against. I myself said it was blown out of proportion if you look at the big picture but I do understand some of the resentment based on doubtful refereeing, some fan behaviors (like burning the UK flag), and even player antics such as celebrating in the faces of the English team getting eliminated or confronting Spanish players after the final - they even assaulted some of the Spanish players, Paredes even assaulted Gavi and someone (don’t remember who) threw Olmos to the ground DURING the final. It’s not the first time they acted like this on the field either. We can’t really just blame an anti-Argentina agenda when many of the fans and players themselves act questionably to begin with.

But at the same time it’s not like all Argentinians behave that way or like they’re the worst when there are literally countries where most people are actually in favor of genocide, Argentinian society can be mildly infuriating at times but they are not malignantly racist.

Bottom line there is reason to question the Argentinian team and fans but it doesn’t need to be exaggerted.

[choco-latte]

Exaggerated*

Also, clearly the best team of the tournament won

[choco-latte]

Also there are a few Argentinians defending Paredes because they say that Rodri yelled at Molina first for carelessly bumping into some Spanish players 😂

So what does Gavi have to do with it? He just went to defend his teammate after Paredes put his hand on a Spanish player’s throat and between Paredes and like two other Argentina players they throw Gavi on the ground. No accountability from some 🤷🏻‍♀️

[FreyaRed]

FIFA has a long history of corruption and rigged games. I found Argentina should get at least one red card already in first half of final game against Spain.
Spain was just much better and Argentina couldn't do anything even with "benevolence" of referee.

I think European teams should leave FIFA and make their own World cup. Somehow UEFA cup is never such a drama.

[Just_Ken]

Messi has a net worth of $1.1 billion dollars now imagine his worth towards in the eyes of sponsors and his value if Argentina won the world cup.

Whatever the case Argentina played a very rough game of soccer with England and Spain and should have had multiple players sent off. That goal by Spain should never have been disallowed.

[WhitneySnow]

I know nothing about soccer, but TL;dr. Also sounds biased.

[FrodoSkywalker007]

Not surprised. But let's just blame Americans or Trump 😂