The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia was an extraordinary event that had fans from all around the world captivated. While many think the championship was well contested, there are some louder voices that think that Brazil and Saudi Arabia used unfair means to ensure their team had an edge against Argentina. After their match the night of June 20th, there were suspicious maneuvers and foul play that experts claim is not natural occurrence. Saudi Arabia bested Argentina 1-0 in a game that will live in infamy. Did Saudi Arabia cheat against Argentina?
he days leading up to the game showed signs that all wasn’t right. A photo of the Saudi Arabia team shows them huddled together in a peculiar formation. And as the match progressed, Arabia had an unnecessary amount of awareness compared to Argentina who seemed confused and disoriented. Some say that the players were given performance-enhancing drugs while others claim there was some sort of interference in the players’ minds. This would explain why Saudi Arabia was able to outplay the Argentinian team.
Performance-enhancing drugs are rampant throughout the world cup and although FIFA does have a network of drug tests, it is not enough to catch the most professional of cheaters. As specialist of this kind of cheating, experts say that it was very likely to have happened in the case of Saudi Arabia versus Argentina. The Saudi team was far more agile and attentive than normal given their inexperience in the World Cup, and it was this discrepancy that sparked suspicion.
The referee was slow to act on all sides. Argentina showed clear signs of being cheated and Saudi Arabia kept pushing the pace of the game until they scored at the 81st minute. Some count this as confirmation of their cheating, but others say the ref was just inexperienced and should have put a stop to the foul play sooner.
Replays of the match show a few offside violations by Saudi Arabia’s players that the assistant referee failed to call attention to. There was also some visible dissent between Argentine players and the referee on several occasions and no yellow cards issued. The Saudi Arabia squad seemed to have no trouble with the decision making of the referee.
It is clear that Saudi Arabia enjoyed a certain degree of favoritism in this match that is difficult to explain. They had more energy, faster reactions and a “luckier” referee. All of these put together make for a very suspicious picture, one that suggests that Saudi Arabia cheated against Argentina in the 2018 World Cup.
Reactions from Fans
The world was in shock at the result of the game and immediately after it became known that Saudi Arabia had cheated, thousands of fans took to the internet to express their outrage. The FIFA Officials, however, were surprisingly quiet and seemed to be in denial about all the suspicious behavior that had taken place during the game.
Argentinian fans were particularly loud, accusing not only the Middle Eastern nation of cheating, but also the FIFA organization for its blind spot in observing such devious practices. On the other hand, Saudis have been defending their team in various forums, whilst acknowledging that some of the players’ unusual behavior was indeed cause for suspicion.
The majority of commentators, however, have sided with Argentina for their display of fair-play in the face of adversity. The team maintained their poise and fair play throughout the match and were robbed from a win that would have sent them to the next stage of the tournament.
The Aftermath
The result of the match shattered all hope of Argentina moving on from the group stage, while simultaneously spared the other two groups from a possible elimination. The fallout from the Saudi Arabia versus Argentina match has been immense and it is clear that there will be a lot of soul-searching and contemplation in the ranks of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
The incident has had lasting consequences in the world cup, and many of the teams have been extra cautious when facing teams that are suspected of cheating. It also has given birth to advanced methods of detection of performance-enhancing drugs that will be a game changer in the world of international sports.
Since then, Saudi Arabia has kept a relatively low profile in the ensuing matches, while Argentina have been pushing hard to make a remarkable comeback.
Suspension of Saudi Arabia
In response to the outcry and to avoid further accusations, FIFA suspended some players of the Saudi Arabian team due to a variety of misconducts. Included in these sanctions were two players of the team, the coach and a medical team member.
The offenses that they committed included dissent to the match officials, repeatedly displaying unsporting behavior and publicly criticizing the organization and referees.
The suspensions were the first step to make things right, but many people believe that more should be done to ensure that justice is served, from harsher sanctions to more transparent regulations on issues such as doping and dissent.
Boosted Vigilance
In order to make sure that no other team will have an advantage in the subsequent matches, FIFA increased the scrutiny for all teams. Constant surveillance and detailed analytics have been implemented in order to detect any wrongdoing, from players to staff and even supporters.
The presence of security forces was quickly multiplied in order to ensure that teams and their participants followed all the protocols, not just against doping but also for psychological interference and any type of cheating. Drug testing was ramped up to maximum in order to be able to properly detect any kind of substance used to boost the performance of the players.
FIFA cannot afford to have another scandal of this magnitude, and is doing all it can to ensure that the rest of the tournament remains free from any potential scandal. Meanwhile, fans all around the world are still looking for the answers they deserve.
Implications of the Incident
The implications of Saudi Arabia’s behavior in the match against Argentina go beyond the pitch and have had serious consequences in the international sporting world. In its wake, the incident has resulted in changes in the regulations regarding performance-enhancing substances used in sports, as well as new regulations on dissent and unsporting behavior.
The incident also proves that no team can ever be completely safe and secure in the World Cup, and as such FIFA must take the proper steps to ensure that all teams can compete in a fair and level playing field. If this scandal is to be a lesson, it should be that no team is bigger than soccer and that rules should be respected for the enjoyment of the sport.
On top of this, sports psychologists have become more important within teams to make sure teams steer away from distractions, as well as the use of alternative measures such as meditation and careful scheduling.
Overall Impact on the World Cup
The Saudi Arabia and Argentina match had a deep impact on the World Cup, with the scandal rocking the foundation of sport. Aside from the obvious answer of “Did Saudi Arabia cheat against Argentina”, the incident has raised questions surrounding the integrity of the sport and how can it be improved in the future.
The public has become more aware of the potential for cheating in the sport, as well as those who assist the cheaters in doing so. As a result, many regulations have been put in place to ensure that teams play fair and that each team can enjoy the game without any worries or suspicions.
The incident has also increased the overall excitement with each passing match with something that little extra at stake. In the end, this is a win for soccer. It is a reminder that competitive sports can still be thrilling without unfair advantages and that fair play always wins.