he World Cup ultimate officers have hit again at criticism from French followers and sections of the media because the fall-out from Argentina’s victory continues.
Complaints started within the quick aftermatch of final weekend’s exceptional ultimate, with L’Equipe amongst these to assert that Lionel Messi’s extra-time aim ought to have been dominated out as two Argentina substitutes had been already on the pitch in celebration earlier than the ball crossed the road.
That made it 3-2 to Argentina earlier than Kylian Mbappe accomplished his hat-trick late in extra-time to ship it to a penalty shootout, which was received when Gonzalo Montiel transformed his spot-kick.
Referee Szymon Marciniak was praised by many for his officiating within the ultimate, and responsed to the disgruntled French followers at a press convention by lifting up his telephone and revealing an image he mentioned confirmed plenty of substitutes had been additionally on the pitch for one in all Les Blues’ objectives.
“The French didn’t mention this photo, where you can see how there are seven Frenchmen on the pitch when Mbappe scores a goal,” Marciniak mentioned.
Over 200,000 individuals have now signed a petition to replay the ultimate, with many French followers believing Argentina’s opening aim, a penalty from Messi, got here after an Angel di Maria dive. There are additionally options Mbappe was fouled within the build-up to their second aim.
Tomasz Kwiatkowski, who was the VAR official for the ultimate, has little time for the criticism geared toward him and his colleagues.
“There were six goals where there were several tight situations in the crucial phase of attacks,” he mentioned by way of RMC Sport.
“I had three penalties which were very well dictated by Szymon Marciniak. I had two situations with a potential red card and a super-difficult dive of Marcus Thuram, and remember that sometimes a dive is in the balance with a penalty.”
He added: “When you’re sitting in a warm chair, drinking a beer and eating crisps, everything seems simple, he tackles about the criticisms levelled against the refereeing of this final.”
