World Cup 2018: Diego Maradona apologises for saying England committed 'robbery'

By Daily Sports on July 6, 2018

Argentina legend Diego Maradona has apologised to Fifa for saying England committed a "monumental robbery" in beating Colombia in the World Cup last 16.

Maradona accused referee Mark Geiger of bias towards England.

Fifa said his comments were "entirely inappropriate" and insinuations about the referee "completely unfounded".

"I said a couple of things and, I admit, some of them are unacceptable," said Maradona on social media.

Maradona posted his message below a picture of himself and Fifa president Gianni Infantino, apologising to both the Swiss and football's world governing body.

"I have absolute respect for the work - which is not easy - that the institution and the referees do," he added.

Maradona, 57, felt Geiger should have penalised Harry Kane for a foul on Colombia's Carlos Sanchez instead of awarding the penalty that allowed the England captain to open the scoring just before the hour mark in Moscow.

"Here's a gentleman who decides, a referee who, if you Google him, shouldn't be given a match of this magnitude... Geiger, an American, what a coincidence," Maradona had said on his nightly World Cup show for the Venezuela-based Telesur broadcaster.

Maradona was pictured wearing a Colombia shirt prior to the game and TV images showed him celebrating Yerry Mina's late equaliser.

Fifa said it was "extremely sorry" to read the comments from "a player who has written the history of our game".

"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," it said.

'He only spoke English, some bias was certain'

Colombia captain Radamel Falcao also accused Geiger of bias, calling the American's performance "shameful".

Geiger often struggled to control a feisty encounter in Moscow, which England won on penalties.

"This situation was undermining us," said Falcao.

Former Chelsea and Manchester United striker Falcao was one of six Colombia players booked by Geiger, while two England players had their names taken.

"The referee disturbed us a lot, in the 50-50 plays, he always made the calls in favour of England," said Falcao. "He didn't act with the same criteria for both teams. When in doubt, he always went to the England side.

"I found it peculiar that they put an American referee in this instance. To tell you the truth, the process leaves a lot of doubts." (BBC)

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 6, 2018


 

You may also like...
Van Dijk, Matip Condemned To Deliver As Liverpool...

*EREME FC EMERGES RIVERS STATE CHAMPIONS IN THE...

Cutrone shines in AC Milan victory over Olympiakos...

Green, Curry, Durant Fined For Criticizing Officials

BREAKING NEWS: Football stars, others perish in plane...

Sharapova to face Muguruza in Madrid exhibition

 

Latest News CHAN Eagles Gear up For Ghana Clash Onitsha Country Club Plans Tennis Academy With Facility New Facelift Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,142 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,269 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,351 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,992 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,932 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,879 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,718 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,289 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,333 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,036 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,490 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,917 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media