World football governing body, FIFA, has strongly rebuked Argentina football legend, Diego Maradona, for his comment that England’s win over Colombia was a robbery and that referee Mark Geiger was not up to the task.
It’s the third controversy involving the Argentina great at the World Cup, which he has mostly attended as a VIP guest of FIFA.
“Following comments made by Diego Armando Maradona…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,” FIFA said in a statement.
FIFA said it was “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.”
In that context, FIFA said it was “extremely sorry to read such declarations from a player who has written the history of our game.”
England won the round of 16 match on penalties following 120 minutes marred by squabbling, protests to the referee, play-acting and feigning injury.
Maradona said England’s win was a “monumental robbery” and that Geiger “shouldn’t be given a match of this magnitude.”
He added: “Geiger, an American, what a coincidence.”
Maradona had been photographed before the game wearing a yellow Colombia jersey.
He previously apologised for making an offensive gesture toward South Korean fans and was filmed aggressively raising his middle fingers after Argentina scored a late winning goal against Nigeria.
