Colombian star: American ref handed England win
Eight yellow cards. A head-butt. Yelling players surrounding the referee. Gamesmanship and spikiness across the pitch. Decided on a penalty shoot-out, the World Cup drama of England beating Colombia would have been better without the ugliness. Among those who thought so: Colombia star Radamel Falco, who was particularly frustrated with American referee Mark Geiger.
“I found it peculiar that they put an American referee in this instance,” Falco told reporters afterward. “To tell you the truth, the process leaves a lot of doubts. He only spoke English, some bias was certain. Through small calls he was pushing us [toward] our goal, that was clear for me.
“The referee disturbed us a lot, in the 50-50 plays, he always made the calls in favor of England. This situation was undermining us. He didn’t act with the same criteria for both teams. When in doubt he always went to the England side. It’s shameful that this happens in the round of 16 of a World Cup.”
Struggling at times to keep control of the game, Geiger dished out six yellow cards to Colombian players.
Four of them were in a particularly ill-disciplined 12-minute second-half spell that included Colombia midfielder Carlos Sanchez wrestling England striker Harry Kane to the ground on a set-piece in the penalty box. Kane scored from the spot.
“There were so many interruptions in the game, far too many interruptions,” Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said. “That hasn’t been good for us. It’s hurt our side a lot.”
The two England players cautioned were Jordan Henderson and Jesse Lingard.
Wilmar Barrios got the first yellow card, after he butted his head into Henderson’s chest and then his chin. The England midfielder fell to the ground theatrically.
England manager Gareth Southgate defended his players’ behavior.
“If we were down, it was because we were fouled,” he said.
“There were many, many fouls in the game and I don’t think we conceded anywhere near the number of our opponents. … I’m proud of the discipline. We kept our composure in a really difficult environment and we deserved to win.”
— With AP