Diego Maradona, the Argentina icon has been on the headlines ever since the start of FIFA World Cup 2018 for various reasons.
On Tuesday, during the England and Colombia round of 16 matches, there emerged a lot of controversies. This led to Maradona criticising the match referee Mark Geiger for allegedly favouring England.
According to Maradona, England’s win over Colombia in a match that ended in the penalty-shoot-outs was what he called, “monumental theft.”
Speaking to teleSUR, Maradona said: "I saw a monumental theft on the pitch. I apologise to all the Colombian people, but the players are not to blame for this.”
"Here is a gentleman (Collina) who is the one who decides to choose a referee by just Googling him. He cannot be put in to referee a match of this magnitude," continued Maradona who questioned the decision by Fifa referees Chief Pierluigi Collina to appoint American official Mark Geiger as the match official.
However, FIFA has come out responding to Maradona's claims. They have strongly rebuked his criticism. Fifa said the 57-year-old's comments were purely unfolded and inappropriate.
"At a time when Fifa is doing everything within its power to ensure principles of fair play, integrity, and respect are at the forefront of this World Cup and how the organisation is now run, FIFA is extremely sorry to read such declarations from a player who has written the history of our game," read a statement from Fifa.
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