'VAR-gentina?' A breakdown of the conspiracy theories ahead of the World Cup semi-finals
iol.co.za
Argentina's run to the World Cup semi-finals has sparked viral conspiracy theories about rigged VAR calls — but is it bias, or just fans seeing patterns in close decisions?
Proportionality BiasIllusory CorrelationSocial ProofConspiracy Theory Formation
Theory Briefing
- Argentina's path to the semi-finals has been swamped by online claims — described as having not a shred of evidence — that VAR decisions were manipulated in their favour.
- The defending champions' status makes them a lightning rod: fans expect the tournament to protect its marquee team, fuelling suspicion around every tight call.
- Conspiracy theories spread fastest when outcomes feel improbable, and a reigning champion repeatedly surviving close VAR moments fits that template perfectly.
- The 'VAR-gentina' label shows how quickly a catchy framing can crystallise vague suspicion into a shareable narrative across social media.