Diego Maradona Says Colombia Suffered A ‘Monumental Robbery’
A day after England managed to secure a quarter-final spot through victory over Colombia, Diego Maradona launched into a rant on Venezuelan-based channel Telesur.
“Today I saw a monumental robbery on the pitch, a fatal mistake for a whole country.”
Maradona would criticise Pierluigi Collina, the head of FIFA’s refereeing committee, for letting Mark Geiger take control of the match.
“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.”
“I’m just sorry for the whole Colombian people,” Maradona said. “I cheered Colombia’s goal as if I had headed it myself.”
England went 1-0 up on Colombia after Harry Kane was brought down in the box. He converted the penalty with a textbook finish. And it looked as if that would be the final result but Yerry Mina rose higher than all others to head in a corner in injury time.
GOAL! Harry Kane gives England the lead from the penalty spot! pic.twitter.com/AAIkGam36b
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 3, 2018
GOAL! Mina heads Colombia level in injury time! pic.twitter.com/esxL2aZuI7
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 3, 2018
The morning after the night before…
Watch back @England's historic first ever @FIFAWorldCup penalty shootout win in 2 minutes!
Enjoy! 💪 pic.twitter.com/hXXIUmnttt
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 4, 2018
Nothing could separate the two sides in extra time, which brought about penalties. England would go on to win the shootout 4-3.
Maradona of course has a history with England after his spectacular cheating and spectacular brilliance in their 1986 World Cup quarter-final matchup.
Additionally, he has also been newsworthy in this years tournament after he was seen swearing at Nigerian fans after his Argentina side narrowly beat Nigeria 2-1 to qualify for the knockout stages. He then had to receive medical attention after the game.
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