England manager Thomas Tuchel could face disciplinary action from FIFA after the World Cup over comments he made after the Three Lions’ 16-game win over Mexico. The German player criticized referee Alireza Faghani after defender Jarel Quansah was sent off in the second half of England’s 3-2 win over Azteca.
The Athletic reported that FIFA plans to wait until the end of the North American tournament before imposing sanctions on players and coaches who bring the game into disrepute. Whether world soccer’s governing body issues such a sanction is said to depend on the referee’s report and other factors.
FIFA has imposed sanctions on several member associations following the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and similar measures are reportedly expected to be taken this year as well. Match officials, including coach Tuchel, have been under intense criticism throughout the tournament following the match against Mexico.
“This is not enough. He (the referee) can send off any team at any time,” he said.
“It’s not good enough, it’s just inconsistent and unreliable in matches.
“Now we have two fourth officials who just step out of the coaching zone and yell at us. That’s not enough.”
Tuchel is not the only manager to criticize World Cup refereeing. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan harshly criticized French referee François Letissier after his team suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat in their last-16 match against Argentina.
The 59-year-old said: “We were the best in everything, but the result… was influenced not by external factors but by internal factors on the pitch and external factors before the game.”
“It’s clear that the pressure that the Argentine side put on the referee before the match was effective, because they brought up France and the French national team against the referee. It appears that there was pressure on the referee’s side from the Argentine side that led to this result.”
Egyptian striker Mostafa Zico added: “We were leading 2-0 but there was nothing we could do. Everything depends on God. We wanted to make everyone happy. It wasn’t in the cards. It was the referee. The cup is for Argentina.”
Former Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji also took aim at referee João Pinheiro after Switzerland lost 3-1 in extra time to Argentina in the quarter-finals at the weekend.
“It becomes difficult when the referee is against you. Every little thing was criticized against us. Every dive and foul by the Argentine went unpunished,” said the 30-year-old.
“Normally I don’t say anything to the referee, but I’ve never experienced a game as one-sided as today.”
In other competitions, including the Premier League, such comments would quickly lead to fines and touchline suspensions. However, world soccer’s governing body will hold off on making any recommendations until after the tournament ends on Sunday. FIFA has been contacted for comment.
