Political Economist

Top Menu

  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact us

Main Menu

  • Local News
  • World News
  • Business & Economy
  • Sports
  • Commentaries
  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact us

logo



Political Economist

  • Local News
  • World News
  • Business & Economy
  • Sports
  • Commentaries
  • LASG SET TO REMOVE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ON PROPOSED WORKERS SCHEME

  • COVID-19: We must focus on opportunities the pandemic provides, make the best of the situation – Osinbajo

  • Armed Forces Remembrance Day : Boko Haram is weaker today than in 2015 – Presidency

  • EPL: Iwobi scores as Everton beat Wolves; Pogba powers Man United to top of table

  • LAGOS CBD INTENSIFIES SENSITISATION ON SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19

Sports
Home›Sports›Maradona apologises to FIFA for referee rant

Maradona apologises to FIFA for referee rant

By Admin
July 5, 2018
261
0

Maradona ..indecent gesture

Diego Maradona has apologised to FIFA after an outspoken attack on the referee for Colombia’s defeat to England at the World Cup. Argentina’s 1986 World Cup-winning captain claimed Colombia suffered a “monumental robbery” in the last-16 tie on Tuesday after England were awarded a penalty for a foul on Harry Kane.

Maradona said American referee Mark Geiger “knows a lot about baseball but has no idea about football” and also criticised FIFA for appointing the official to the match.

His remarks earned him a rebuke from tournament organisers FIFA, whom it is understood pay Maradona around 10,000 US dollars a game as part of its ‘Legends’ ambassador programme.

Maradona, 57, has now has now expressed regret for his comments in a post on Instagram.

He wrote: “Taken by the excitement of supporting Colombia the other day, I said a couple of things and, I admit, some of them are unacceptable. My apologies to FIFA and its president.

“As much as I may sometimes have opinions contrary to some refereeing decisions, I have absolute respect for the work – not easy – that the institution and the referees do.”

Maradona, who was photographed in a Colombia shirt before the match, had accused England players of conning Geiger and said the referee should have reviewed, and then overturned, the penalty decision.

He told Venezuelan television channel Telesur: “The penalty was not a penalty; it was a foul by Kane… Why didn’t he use VAR?

“Today I saw a monumental robbery on the pitch.

“I screamed at Colombia’s equaliser as though I had been the one to head that ball because it’s not possible – you have to denounce this.

“As the captain of legends, I have to tell (FIFA president Gianni) Infantino this cannot be left like this. This is a fatal mistake for a whole country.”

FIFA, the world governing body, responded to those remarks with a strong statement.

It read: “FIFA strongly rebukes the criticism of the performance of the match officials which it considers to have been positive in a tough and highly emotional match.

“Furthermore, it also considers the additional comments and insinuations made as being entirely inappropriate and completely unfounded.

“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.” Credit: Press Association

TagsColombiaDiego MaradonaEnglandFIFAMark Geigerreferee
Previous Article

Monarch’s wife kills rival’s 3-year-old baby, sets ...

Next Article

Nigerian fan requests asylum in Russia

Related articles More from author

  • African
    Special ReportsSportsWorld News

    $7.35bn spent on players transfer in 2019, 80% of spending from 100 clubs – FIFA

    January 23, 2020
    By Admin
  • Local News

    FG to evacuate scammed, stranded Nigerians in Russia

    July 17, 2018
    By Admin
  • Sports

    World Cup: Semi-final combatants set for showdown

    July 9, 2018
    By Admin
  • Local News

    I did not receive bribe, FIFA’s verdict unfair – Siasia reacts

    August 18, 2019
    By Admin
  • Local News

    FWC: Jubilation as Nigeria seals a place in knockout phase first time in 20 years

    June 21, 2019
    By Admin
  • Sports

    Nigerians pick holes in Super Eagles squad after England loss

    June 3, 2018
    By Admin

You may be interested

  • COVID-19
    Local NewsPress Releases

    Osinbajo Attends ECOWAS Summit on Mali in Ghana 

  • Local NewsVideos

    NEMA Evacuates 5037 Nigerians from Libya

  • Local News

    HYPREP: Shell says it remains committed to providing its share of $900m to the Ogoni Trust Fund

logo

Political Economist is a liberal news magazine with global affiliations.

We promote free enterprise and act as a catalyst for the growth of knowledge economy. We are proudly pan-Nigeria yet richly spiced with African and global news. We offer a fair and balanced news reportage presented by our team of well-heeled professional journalists...

About us

  • 5 Olutosin Ajayi Street, By CPM Church, Ajao Estate, Lagos State, Nigeria
  • +234 805 680 1124
  • info@politicaleconomistng.com
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • directive

    COVID-19: LASG Extends Work-From-Home Directive As Virus Surges On

    By Admin
    January 16, 2021
  • Senate

    U.S. Senate Republican asks tech firms to explain account, content removals

    By Admin
    January 16, 2021
  • Museveni

    Uganda Decides: President Museveni wins 6th term, re-elected with 58% votes

    By Admin
    January 16, 2021
  • Peacekeepers

    Three UN peacekeepers killed in 3 days in CAR, Mali

    By Admin
    January 16, 2021
  • Jonathan Sacks IGP Abba, Appoints Arase

    By Admin
    April 21, 2015
  • Zinox iPower Inverter Claws to Market Dominance

    By Admin
    November 24, 2014
  • Police foil another suicide bomb attempt in Borno, kill three bombers

    By Admin
    April 24, 2017
  • Your Kidney is Your Life, Watch Your Lifestyle, Counsels Dr. Amira

    By Admin
    February 27, 2015
  • Justopec
    on
    April 24, 2017

    Police foil another suicide bomb attempt in Borno, kill three bombers

    Good one for the ...
  • Justice Shedrack
    on
    April 24, 2017

    Police foil another suicide bomb attempt in Borno, kill three bombers

    Nice
  • Anonymouse
    on
    February 8, 2017

    Qatar Airways makes history, completes first longest non-stop flight of 16 hours from Doha to New ...

    This is nice...
  • Justice Shedrack
    on
    January 19, 2017

    Confusion in Gambia, Jammeh stays put, Barrow to be sworn in at Gambia embassy in Senegal

    Na wa ooooo

Find us on Facebook

Follow us

  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
© Copyright Political Economist. All rights reserved.