World Cup 2022: Fans Believe Referees Have Soft Spot for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with Penalties

• Soccer fans on social media have lamented the 'soft' penalties given to football stars
• Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were awarded a combined three penalties in Qatar
• Ronaldo has a 100 per cent record from the spot, while Messi scored one and missed one

Football fans monitoring the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup believe Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's clout and pedigree earn them an undue advantage in penalty situations.

The football festival in Qatar was always bound to throw up some major talking points, and alongside the semi-automatic VAR system, controversial penalty decisions have been on the lips of most fans.

The contentious nature of the penalties, particularly the ones involving Argentina and Portugal superstars Messi and Ronaldo, have divided opinions.

There has been 11 penalties awarded at the World Cup so far, with Messi and Ronaldo accounting for 27.3 per cent of the total number of spot kicks awarded in the Mundial, as noted by the Sun.

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The aforementioned statistics have forced football fans across social media platforms to propound a conspiracy theory about biased officiating.

@SaddickAdams argued:

"Looks like these referees have some different kind of emotion when Ronaldo and Messi are ‘touched’ in the box."

@Mummys_petT concurred and questioned the legitimacy of Messi's penalty against Poland:

"I was like how on earth this is a penalty, moment he went for VAR, I knew he will definitely give it."

@pokuaase was less charitable with her assessment of referees at the World Cup:

"The referees are really disgracing themselves, especially those being assigned to the VAR room."

@abrantie001, who admits he is a Messi fan, confessed his idol's penalty was undeserved:

"Yeah. Adey love Messi but this penalty dier someway. He headed the ball already, there was no chance he could score."

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@richversatile insinuated:

"Football politics for TV rights and money… just to keep some teams and stars in the competition."

Messi misses from the spot

Lionel Messi missed a crucial penalty in the first half against Poland, in Argentina's must-win final group game at the ongoing 2022 World Cup.

The 35-year-old genius proved his clutch powers to inspire La Albiceleste to a 2-0 victory over fellow Latin America nation Mexico, after they suffered a shock loss to Saudi Arabia.

Messi, who has been Argentina's goal-getter extraordinaire, assumed responsibility for the seemingly contentious penalty.

Ghana coach accuses biased referee

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ghana coach Otto Addo insisted that the spot kick from which Ronaldo netted his fifth goal was a 'gift' from the referee.

Ghana had been comfortably holding Portugal, until Ismail Elfath awarded a penalty after Mohammed Salisu's challenge on Ronaldo, which the ageing icon rammed home.

The Black Stars went on to lose 3-2 following goals from Joao Felix and rising star Rafael Leao, but when asked who most contributed to his side's defeat, Addo said: "The referee."