World Cup officiating has come under fire as the tournament draws to a close, with FIFA chief referee Pierluigi Collina coming out to address the issue.
Pierluigi Collina hits back at World Cup critics. (Image: Getty Images)
Refereeing icon Pierluigi Collina has hit back at criticism at the World Cup and defended match officials. They have come under renewed scrutiny following allegations of bias during Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt. Mohamed Salah saw his World Cup dreams come to a dramatic end as the defending champion staged an improbable comeback to keep his hopes of remaining in the competition alive. However, Francois Letexier came under criticism from Pharaohs head coach Hossam Hassan, who appeared to hint at foul play against the team. Egyptians were angry that some decisions did not go their way. However, FIFA referee Colina defended the officials.
“Overall, I’m satisfied. But with so many matches being played in a relatively short period of time, it’s normal for things to not go as expected. When that happens, they’re ready to go the extra mile to be fully prepared for the next match,” he said in an interview on the FIFA website.
“Of course, constructive debate over decisions is always part of football, but baseless allegations have no place in our sport. No one can question the integrity of FIFA World Cup match officials.”
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Refereeing icon Pierluigi Collina has hit back at criticism at the World Cup and defended match officials. The middle class has come under fresh scrutiny following allegations of bias during Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt.
Mohamed Salah saw his World Cup dreams end in dramatic fashion as the defending champions pulled off an unexpected comeback to keep their hopes of staying in the competition alive. However, Francois Letexier was criticized by Pharaohs’ head coach Hossam Hassan, who appeared to hint at elements of foul play against the Pharaohs’ side.
Egyptians became angry when many decisions did not go their way.
However, FIFA referee umpire Colina stood tall in defense of the officials. “Overall I’m happy, but with so many matches being played in a relatively short period of time, it’s normal for things to not go as expected,” he said in an interview on the FIFA website.
“When that happens, they are ready to work even harder to be fully prepared for the next game.
Hossam Hassan (left) and Mohamed Salah (right) protest against the referee during the World Cup match against Argentina (Image: Getty Images)
The Egyptian Football Association said “several key events raised serious concerns and deep questions” and said Hassam became visibly angry after the loss and took aim at the referee.
He said, “Life is unfair. The world is unfair. I understand that, but why isn’t there fairness in sports? I don’t agree with this result and how this match played out.”
“The referee is unfair. God is enough for me and only God can make things work out. He is wasting the efforts of the whole country. The cup is for Argentina.”
Referees were to be put under the microscope during the knockout stages after a number of flashpoints by those who blew the whistle.
Folarin Balogun’s red card for a serious foul was suspended rather than overturned following his sending off during the USA’s win over Bosnia. A phone call from a disgruntled Donald Trump sparked outrage after the US president’s intervention raised concerns about integrity as the main striker was cleared to play against Belgium.
France was also disappointed by the lack of defense in their 1-0 win over Paraguay. The South Americans’ hard-line approach during their Round of 16 showdown went largely unpunished, with Paraguayan players avoiding sanctions despite numerous flashpoints.
