An online petition demanding Argentina's expulsion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup has surpassed 10 million signatures, according to reports. The campaign, which accuses match officials of systematic favouritism toward the defending champions, has gained momentum as Argentina prepares to face Spain in the final on Sunday, July 19.
Petition Claims Referee Bias
Organisers of the petition allege that referees have consistently made decisions benefiting Argentina throughout the tournament. Several matches involving La Albiceleste have sparked controversy over disputed penalty calls, fouls, and incidents where opponents believed stronger disciplinary action was warranted. The petition reportedly crossed six million signatures before climbing past the 10 million mark, reflecting widespread frustration among fans from various countries.
According to the Times of India, support for the campaign has continued to grow in recent days. The South China Morning Post also reported that the petition has attracted support from football fans across several continents, indicating the controversy has extended beyond nations that have faced Argentina at the tournament.
FIFA Yet to Respond
FIFA has not issued an official statement regarding the petition or the allegations of refereeing bias. The governing body has also not indicated whether any review of officiating decisions involving Argentina will be carried out.
Argentina, champions of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, entered the 2026 edition as one of the favourites and have progressed to another final as they seek to defend their title against Spain.
UK Calls for Investigation
In a related development, Legit.ng earlier reported that the British government has formally called on FIFA to open an investigation into Argentina's national football team. This follows an incident where players held up a banner asserting sovereignty over the Falkland Islands during post-match celebrations after their 2-1 World Cup semifinal win over England in Atlanta. UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle described the players' conduct as "entirely inappropriate" and stated that he expected FIFA to carry out its investigation thoroughly.
