FIFA ‘strongly rebukes’ Diego Maradona comments after England win against Colombia
Written by News on 05/07/2018
FIFA says it “strongly rebukes” comments made by its ambassador Diego Maradona criticising American referee Mark Geiger’s handling of England’s win against Colombia in the World Cup last 16 on Tuesday.
After Gareth Southgate’s side booked their place in the quarter-finals with a penalty shootout, Maradona said Colombia had been the victims of a “monumental theft”.
Maradona also said Geiger should have penalised Kane in the build-up to England’s second-half penalty, and criticised Pierluigi Collina, head of FIFA’s referee committee, for allowing Geiger to officiate the match.
Colombia boss angry at England antics
FIFA says Maradona’s “insinuations” were “entirely inappropriate and completely unfounded”.
“FIFA is extremely sorry to read such declarations from a player who has written the history of our game,” the world football body said in a statement.
Maradona, who mostly attended World Cup games in Russia as a VIP guest of FIFA, was photographed before the game wearing a Colombia shirt.
“I’m just sorry for the whole Colombian people,” Maradona said. “I cheered Colombia’s goal as if I had headed it myself.”
(c) Sky News 2018: FIFA ‘strongly rebukes’ Diego Maradona comments after England win against Colombia
