Was the referee up to scratch? FIFA refereeing chief responds to Didier Deschamps' comments after France's semi-final loss
Goal.com • • sports
Key Points:
- Following France's semi-final loss to Spain, coach Didier Deschamps criticized referee Ivan Barton's decisions, particularly a first-half penalty awarded to Spain, questioning whether the referee was fit to officiate such a high-stakes match.
- FIFA's head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, defended Barton and his officiating team, affirming their world-class status and the rigorous selection process for tournament referees.
- Deschamps highlighted several controversial moments, including a penalty decision after a VAR review and a reversed free-kick call, as well as perceived leniency towards Spain's fouls, which he felt disadvantaged France.
- Despite the focus on officiating, Deschamps acknowledged that France's own performance was below par, citing technical mistakes and Spain's strong defense as key reasons for their defeat.
- The French coach admitted his team was not at the necessary level to reach a third consecutive final, emphasizing the need for improvement in future matches.
