FIFA condemns Maradona comments about England-Colombia referee

[AGXStarseed]

(Not written by me. I'm not a big football fan, but I've been following the world cup and this story made me laugh so I thought I'd share it)


FIFA condemned comments by Diego Maradona on Wednesday, after the Argentinian legend claimed that Colombia only lost to England in the World Cup last 16 because of the appointment of referee Mark Geiger for the match.

The 1986 World Cup winner said England's win was a "monumental robbery" after Gareth Southgate's men edged through a bad-tempered encounter on penalties on Tuesday.

"I apologise to all the Colombian people, but the players are not to blame -- here is a gentleman (FIFA referees boss Pierluigi Collina) who decides to choose a referee who, by googling him, can't be used for a match of this magnitude," Maradona told Venezuelan TV channel Telesur.

Maradona was at the match as a guest of FIFA and was pictured before the game wearing a Colombia shirt.

Football's world governing body responded, saying it was "extremely sorry" to read the comments from "a players who has written the history of our game".

"Following comments made by Diego Armando Maradona in relation to yesterday's round of 16 game, Colombia v England, FIFA strongly rebukes the criticism of the performance of the match officials which it considers to have been positive in a tough and highly emotional match," a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement.

"Furthermore, it also considers the additional comments and insinuations made as being entirely inappropriate and completely unfounded."

Colombian captain Radamel Falcao also criticised American official Geiger, calling his performance a "disgrace".

Geiger awarded England a second-half penalty after midfielder Carlos Sanchez wrestled Harry Kane to the ground, but also punished an apparent headbutt by Colombia's Wilmar Barrios on Jordan Henderson with only a yellow card.

"It was clear that in the 50-50 calls, he always sided with England and this is a disgrace in the round of 16," said Falcao.

Geiger was suspended from international football for six months after several controversial decisions during a 2015 Gold Cup semi-final between Panama and Mexico.

He also refereed Colombia's 3-0 group-stage win over Greece at the 2014 World Cup.

Former England striker Gary Lineker laughed off Maradona's comments on Twitter, referencing the Argentinian's infamous 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 quarter-finals.

"The sheer effrontery from the fella who punched one in. You've got to hand it to him."

England face Sweden in the last eight in Samara on Saturday.


Source (with images): https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/fif...gland-colombia-referee/ar-AAzB6sz?ocid=AARDHP

 

[Kirsty]

I thought the title said free condoms. Lol! Did anyone else think this at first?

 

[tree]

I thought the title said free condoms. Lol! Did anyone else think this at first?

No.
I wondered what Madonna had to do with a referee, though.

 

[Judge]

No.
I wondered what Madonna had to do with a referee, though.

She just wanted to express herself after British football fans cheered her on after her telling Diego Armando Maradona, "Don't cry for me Argentina".

The ref cautioned that Madonna was on the borderline. Of course the mere mention of borders outraged the Mexican team. But that's another story.

 

[AGXStarseed]

No.
I wondered what Madonna had to do with a referee, though.

It's Maradona, not Madonna.

As for Diego Maradona, he's a retired Argentinian player best known in the UK for causing England to crash out of the 1986 World Cup Quarter Finals; the reason being that he 'scored' by hitting the ball into the net with his hand.
Under normal circumstances, hitting the ball with your hand (unless you're the goalkeeper) either by accident or deliberately is a handball and the player responsible is cautioned or sent off. In Maradona's case back in that fateful match, the goal was allowed despite Maradona hitting it with his hand (the move been labelled "The Hand of God") and as I said it caused England to be knocked out of the World Cup that year - with both team and country feeling like we'd been cheated.

In this case, Maradona has said England committed a "Monumental Robbery" in their victory over Columbia (England won 4-3 on penalties) and claimed the referee (who is American) "should not have been given a match of this magnitude". Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44716774

In an update, Maradona has now apologized for his comments: https://www.thesun.co.uk/world-cup-...radona-fifa-apology-england-colombia-referee/

 

[Tom]

That wasn't a punch in, that was 'The Hand of God!'

But to give credit where credit is due, he did show his stuff legit a few minutes latter with the 'Goal of the Century'.

 

[Judge]

Seems to me I've heard the Argentines cry "monumental robbery" before. Maradona was probably thinking of earlier squabbles with Britain off the playing field. But dayim, that was 36 years ago.

 

[AGXStarseed]

Seems to me I've heard the Argentines cry "monumental robbery" before. Maradona was probably thinking of earlier squabbles with Britain off the playing field. But dayim, that was 36 years ago.

Yeah. Well sadly, we don't have time machines so we can't go back to 'correct' the past. As such, we've all got to move on...which sadly is easier said then done as I think we humans have a love of holding onto grudges and 'wrongs' against us.

 

[tducey]

One of the better soccer/football players ever. Looks like he apologized for what he said so that's that I guess.

 

[Kirsty]

It's Maradona, not Madonna.

Lol this is getting funnier.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

I got nothing.

 

[Judge]

One of the better soccer/football players ever. Looks like he apologized for what he said so that's that I guess.

Madonna said as long as he keeps his promise- and his distance.