FIFA President Did Not Say Algeria vs. Qatar Match Referee To Be Investigated
The Claim
The FIFA president decided to investigate the Arab Cup’s Algeria versus Qatar match referee.
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Emerging story
Social media accounts have recently circulated a video clip claiming it showed the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, announcing a number of decisions, one of which is to investigate Szymon Marciniak, the Polish referee of the Algeria versus Qatar match in the Arab Cup, regarding the injury time he has added to the match between the Qatari and Algerian teams. The claim also said that the referee was temporarily suspended until FIFA’s legal affairs concluded the investigation. The claim goes on to say that if allegations that the referee received any bribes from Qatari officials are found to be true, he will be permanently dismissed from his position, and he will face the public prosecution.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulated claim and found that it was fake. The decisions attributed to the FIFA president are made up and have no basis. The FIFA president himself did not make any statements on this issue, nor did the official FIFA website or other credible source publish anything on the claim.
Infantino was last interviewed on December 16 by the Qatari Al Kass Sports Channels in the context of the Arab Cup 2021. During the interview, the FIFA president said that the event was a great success, not only as a pre-World Cup test but also in determining the best team in the Arab World, which has a population of some 450 million.
The FIFA president also said that the tournament far exceeded my expectations. The audience was wonderful, he added, hoping that the tournament would continue in the future as such tournaments contribute to the game's development. However, the FIFA president did not make any statements regarding the Algeria versus Qatar match referee.
The claim started to circulate after the referee added nine minutes as stoppage time in the semi-final match between Algeria and Qatar on December 15. The nine minutes extended to 18 for a video review of some part of the match. Algeria won the match that was held at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha by 2-1, hence qualifying to meet Tunisia in the Arab Cup final.
Translated by Ahmed N. A. Almassri
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