Sections of Egyptian and Cape Verdean fans have accused their Argentinian counterparts of violent behaviour during the reigning champions' recent matches at the World Cup. These accusations, including allegations of racism, have drawn renewed attention to Argentina's title defence following two closely contested knockout games where lower-ranked opponents nearly defeated Lionel Messi’s side.

On Tuesday, Egypt held a 2-0 lead against Argentina in Atlanta before the reigning champions staged a late comeback to secure their place in the quarterfinals. Following the match, fans of the Argentinian team were captured on video throwing beer at Egyptian supporters after their team equalized. "They're throwing beer at us," said one fan who filmed the incident at Atlanta Stadium. "When we scored, we did nothing to them. After they scored, they started attacking us," he added, panning the camera towards Argentinian fans seen provoking Egypt's supporters.

Further footage and images posted by stadium attendees showed Argentinian fans waving the Israeli flag towards the Egyptian coaching staff as they exited the field. This gesture occurred after Egypt's head coach, Hossam Hassan, had spoken extensively about the plight of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, and had previously raised the Palestinian flag after Egypt's round-of-32 victory over Australia.

The incident in Atlanta was not an isolated event. Last Friday, the smaller nation of Cape Verde gave Argentina a significant challenge in their round-of-32 match in Miami. The tenacious African side managed to score two goals against the three-time champions, surprising the predominantly Argentinian crowd at Miami Stadium. Following Argentina's narrow victory, fans of the Cape Verdean team reported to Al Jazeera that Argentinian fans threw beer bottles at them each time their team scored.

One Cape Verdean fan, who requested anonymity, told Al Jazeera outside Miami Stadium that "We were a much smaller group of fans than them, and they attacked us with bottles after every goal." The fan noted that their group did not retaliate and maintained their support for their team.

These accusations cast a shadow over Argentina's tournament progress, shifting focus from their on-field performance to the conduct of some of their travelling supporters. The incidents raise questions about crowd management and the behaviour of fans in international sporting events, particularly when tensions are heightened by geopolitical events.

While Argentina's team has progressed to the quarterfinals, the allegations of violence and racism from opposing fan groups highlight a concerning aspect of the tournament atmosphere. The outcomes of these accusations and any potential measures taken by tournament organizers remain to be seen.

Further investigation into these claims and potential disciplinary actions could impact the overall perception of the World Cup and its fan experience.