Why Argentina's third goal stood despite more players on the field

Argentina defeated France 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out to win the World Cup for the third time on Sunday, however there was controversy surrounding Argentina's third goal.

In the 108th minute of the final at the Lusail Stadium, Lionel Messi scored his second to make it 3-2, bundling the ball over the line after substitute Lautaro Martinez's powerful close range strike was parried by Hugo Lloris.

Immediately after the goal was scored, there was a suspicion of offside in the build-up prompting a few seconds of confusion on both sides. Replay shows that Martinez was played onside by Raphael Varane, resulting in the goal standing.

But the controversy did not end there.

From a wider TV angle, it appeared that Argentina had an extra two players on the pitch.

According to the IFAB law 3.7, there was enough evidence to not disallow the goal.

The coach and other officials named on the team list (with the exception of players or substitutes) are team officials. Anyone not named on the team list as a player, substitute or team official is an outside agent.

If a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player or outside agent enters the field of play, the referee must:

If play is stopped and the interference was by:

If a ball is going into the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending player playing the ball, the goal is awarded if the ball enters the goal (even if contact was made with the ball) unless the interference was by the attacking team.

The incident was not spotted by the officials or by VAR resulting in the goal standing and sending Argentina players and fans into pandemonium.

Despite the setback, France dug deep and came from behind again as Kylian Mbappe equalised to level the score at 3-3, his third of the