FIFA‘s director of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has defended the performance of Salvadoran official Ivan Barton following criticism from outgoing France coach Didier Deschamps. The comments came after France’s 2-0 defeat to Spain in a World Cup semifinal match held in Arlington, Texas.
Deschamps had expressed doubts about the referee’s suitability for a semifinal match, stating, “If I say anything, I’ll look like a sore loser because we lost. But I ask you: is the referee up to the task of officiating a semifinal?” He specifically mentioned a penalty decision but indicated that it was part of broader concerns. Collina, a former World Cup final referee, responded directly to Deschamps’ question by affirming, “Yes, absolutely. Our referees are world class.”
Controversial Penalty and Match Outcome
The primary point of contention revolved around a penalty awarded to Spain in the first half. Referee Barton judged Lucas Digne‘s challenge on Lamine Yamal to be a foul inside the box. Mikel Oyarzabal converted the penalty, giving Spain the lead.
Spain later sealed their victory in the second half with a goal from Pedro Porro. This result ended France’s bid for a third consecutive World Cup final appearance. Spain’s disciplined performance at AT&T Stadium secured their place in the final for only the second time in their history.
This is not the first instance where Collina has had to defend officials during the tournament. He previously supported a referee after a controversial match involving Egypt and Argentina in the Round of 16, where Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan accused FIFA of favoring the defending champions.
Mbappe’s Assessment of France’s Performance
France captain Kylian Mbappe openly criticized his team’s tactical and technical shortcomings following their semifinal loss. He acknowledged that the team “fell well short” of the required standards for a World Cup semifinal.
Mbappe highlighted issues such as a lack of communication in the press and being outnumbered in midfield against Spain’s control, particularly from Rodri and Fabian Ruiz. He noted, “We were three against two in midfield, and against Spain, that’s hard.”
Despite entering the match with a strong record of six consecutive wins and 16 goals in the tournament, France struggled to impose their game. Mbappe revealed that their plan to press high and disrupt Spain’s build-up did not materialize. He stated, “We didn’t play the game we wanted, technically, tactically. When you don’t do what you have to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don’t win.”
Mbappe also pointed to careless play in possession, which prevented France from capitalizing on their limited opportunities. “We were too sloppy technically. We could not hurt them when we could have,” he added.
Didier Deschamps’ challenges in the match were compounded when defender William Saliba was forced off due to injury before halftime. Despite substitutions in the second half, including Manu Kone, Desire Doue, and Rayan Cherki, Spain doubled their advantage when Pedro Porro scored after an exchange with Dani Olmo.
Mbappe, who entered the semifinal with eight goals, was unable to add to his tally. He remains level with Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. As captain, Mbappe took responsibility for the collective disappointment, concluding, “As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility, and I have no problem with that. We wanted to go to the final. We didn’t go.”
France will now play in the third-place playoff on Saturday in Miami, facing the loser of the semifinal match between Argentina and England. Spain will advance to the final to chase their second World Cup title.
Deschamps, who confirmed his departure as France manager after 14 years following the defeat to Spain, leaves with his questions regarding the officiating unanswered and his team heading into the bronze medal match.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
