FIFA Confirm Argentina’s Bombshell Complaint
FIFA have this morning confirmed they have received a formal complaint from the Argentina Football Association (AFA) that sensationally blames England for security failures surrounding a chilling assassination plot against Lionel Messi during the 2026 World Cup.
The bombshell message, which landed at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters on Friday, alleges that English security agencies failed to share vital intelligence about the plot with their US counterparts—potentially putting the Argentine captain’s life at risk.
In a brief statement, FIFA confirmed: “We have received a formal communication from the Argentine Football Association regarding security matters during the 2026 World Cup. The matter will be reviewed by the appropriate disciplinary and security committees.”
But behind that diplomatic language lies an explosive accusation that threatens to plunge relations between two of football’s biggest nations into a diplomatic crisis.
The Chilling Plot Revealed
The allegations come after a newly released US police report laid bare the terrifying scale of security threats uncovered during the seven-week tournament.
According to the dossier, Messi was the player who received the most threats across the entire World Cup.
Before Argentina’s group-stage class with Jordan, a man called Dallas airport claiming he and two others planned to breach the stadium armed with homemade bombs and an AR-15 rifle, explicitly naming Messi as the target.
But that was just the beginning.
Further threats emerged ahead of Argentina’s last-16 tie with Egypt. One suspect wrote on social media: “I’m going to enter Atlanta Stadium and I’m going to blow up Messi with four bombs stuck in my body.”
Police also received a separate call claiming three bombs had been planted in bins around the stadium. A full search using explosive detection dogs was conducted, though nothing was found.
Argentina’s Explosive Accusation
Now, the Argentina FA has made a stunning allegation: England is to blame.
In their formal complaint to FIFA, the AFA allegedly claims that English security agencies possessed critical intelligence about the plot but failed to share it with the FBI and International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) in a timely manner.
An AFA source told GiveMeSport: “We have evidence that English authorities possessed information about threats against Messi but did not act on it. This is a grave failure of security protocol.”
The complaint is understood to reference the broader context of England-Argentina tensions. Argentina had beaten England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final—a match already marred by controversy after Argentine players unveiled a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
The AFA’s letter reportedly argues that the security failures were not accidental but part of a pattern of hostility from English authorities.
England’s Furious Response
England have strongly denied the accusations.
A spokesperson for the English FA said: “We categorically reject any suggestion that England failed to share security information with our international partners. The safety of all players and officials at the World Cup was our top priority.”
“The FA worked closely with UK security agencies and international law enforcement throughout the tournament. Any claims to the contrary are completely unfounded and appear politically motivated.”
UK security sources have also dismissed the AFA’s allegations as “baseless.”
One source told GiveMeSport: “This is Argentina trying to deflect from their own security failures. England shared everything we had. The idea that we would withhold intelligence about a plot to assassinate Lionel Messi is absurd.”
The Growing Tensions
The row is already escalating.
Argentina’s government has reportedly demanded an urgent meeting with their UK counterparts to discuss the allegations. The UK Foreign Office has yet to respond.
Meanwhile, football fans across both nations are taking sides. Argentine supporters are calling for England to be sanctioned by FIFA. English fans are accusing Argentina of trying to stir up trouble.
One Argentine fan told GiveMeSport: “England have always hated Messi because he’s the best. This proves it.”
An English fan responded: “Argentina are paranoid. They’re trying to blame us for their own problems.”
Ronaldo Also Targeted
Messi wasn’t alone in facing security scares.
Cristiano Ronaldo faced his own scare at Portugal’s team hotel. FIFA alerted the FBI after a “suspicious man” requested details about Ronaldo’s accommodation, with Houston police locating and arresting him inside the hotel two days later.
A separate individual was arrested in Toronto after attempting to enter a lift with Ronaldo, claiming he only wanted a photo.
Match Officials Also Targeted
French referee Francois Letexier received more than 6,000 hateful messages on his personal WhatsApp following the contentious Argentina-Egypt fixture.
VAR official Willy Delajod was subjected to similar abuse. Both had security around their homes and families in France reinforced as a precaution.
What Happens Next?
FIFA’s disciplinary and security committees will now review Argentina’s complaint. The process could take weeks or even months. If the complaint is upheld, England could face sanctions ranging from fines to more serious penalties.
However, with England strongly denying the accusations and Argentina equally adamant, this diplomatic row shows no signs of cooling down.
The Bigger Picture
This scandal raises serious questions about how security intelligence is shared between nations during major tournaments.
With the 2030 World Cup set to be hosted across six countries—Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay—the logistical challenges will be even greater.
Security experts are calling for tighter intelligence sharing between host countries and greater cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
One expert said: “The threats are only going to get worse. Football needs to take this seriously. If Argentina’s claims are true, it’s a massive failure.”
