World Cup: Pepe, Fernandes blast Argentinian referee after Portugal exit
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Argentine referee Facundo Tello shows the red card to Walid Cheddira of Morocco, during the quarter final match against Portugal.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Follow topic:
DOHA - Portugal’s Pepe and Bruno Fernandes lashed out at the Argentinian referee in charge of their 1-0 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Morocco on Saturday,
The match referee Facundo Tello, his two assistants and the video assistant referee, were all from Argentina.
Argentina beat the Netherlands on Friday
Should the Argentinians reach the final, they would have met either the winner of the Portugal v Morocco game, who clashed in Saturday’s earlier game, or France, who beat England in Saturday’s night game.
“It’s unacceptable for an Argentinian referee to referee our game,” Pepe told Portuguese television. “After what happened yesterday, with (Lionel) Messi talking, all of Argentina talking, and the referee comes here.
“What did we play in the second half? The goalkeeper dropped to the ground. There were only eight minutes of stoppage time. We worked hard and the referee (added on only) eight minutes.”
Argentina striker Messi had complained about the refereeing
Portugal’s main grouse was that too little time was added in the Morocco match. They were also critical of supposed time-wasting by the Africans in the second half.
Fernandes also felt that referees from countries still involved in the tournament should not be appointed to matches.
‘Knew what to expect’
“Before the game, we already knew what we were in for, and what kind of referee we would find,” said Fernandes, who was also furious after not being awarded a first-half penalty.
“Unfortunately, in these competitions, where there are no Portuguese referees, there are referees from teams that are still in the competition. It seems strange to me, but I don’t want to get into that, because that’s not the only reason we lost.
“The referee gave two minutes of injury time in the first half and eight in the second. In this second half, the game was stopped, at minimum, for between 15 and 20 minutes.”
Fernandes added: “We knew that we would play against much more than just Morocco.”
Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Neves, Pepe and Bernardo Silva remonstrate with referee Facundo Tello during the match.
PHOTO: REUTERS
However, Portugal coach Fernando Santos did not think the officials made a big difference in his team’s elimination. “I think we could have done more and we didn’t do so. I don’t think we should blame the referee, it doesn’t make sense,” he said.
There was further criticism of the officiating in the England-France game.
Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio was lambasted for his performance, particularly for ignoring a foul on Bukayo Saka in the lead-up to France’s opener, as well as another offence on Harry Kane on the edge of the penalty box.
England defender Harry Maguire told beIN Sport the referee’s decision-making was poor, adding: “He doesn’t initially give the penalty in the second half. The one on Bukayo is a clear foul, leading up to their first goal.
“Just big moments, big decisions, and you expect a referee to get some right. Unfortunately tonight, he didn’t get any.”
Former England defender Gary Neville said on ITV: “The referee... had an absolute nightmare, he was a joke of a referee. I’m not saying he was at fault for England’s defeat. People will say it’s excuses, but he was just a bad referee.” AFP
