DIEGO MARADONA HAS apologised to Fifa over his criticism of referee Mark Geiger following England’s World Cup penalty shoot-out win over Colombia in the round of 16 on Tuesday.
The Argentina icon – who has rarely been out of the headlines during Russia 2018 – claimed Colombia were victims of a “monumental theft” and laid into the performance of the officials.
Advertisement
England had been awarded a second-half penalty for a foul by Carlos Sanchez on Harry Kane – a decision that drew the particular ire of Maradona.
Fifa responded and described the 57-year-old’s comments as “entirely inappropriate and completely unfounded”.
But Maradona has now moved to make peace with world football’s governing body by stressing that he simply got carried away in the moment.
“Taken by the thrill of cheering for Colombia the other day, I said a few things and, I admit, some of them are unacceptable,” he wrote on Instagram. “My apologies to Fifa and its president.
“However much that sometimes I may have opinions contrary to some refereeing decisions, I have absolute respect for the work – not easy – that the institution and the referees do.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
7 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Maradona apologises to Fifa over England 'monumental theft' claim
DIEGO MARADONA HAS apologised to Fifa over his criticism of referee Mark Geiger following England’s World Cup penalty shoot-out win over Colombia in the round of 16 on Tuesday.
The Argentina icon – who has rarely been out of the headlines during Russia 2018 – claimed Colombia were victims of a “monumental theft” and laid into the performance of the officials.
England had been awarded a second-half penalty for a foul by Carlos Sanchez on Harry Kane – a decision that drew the particular ire of Maradona.
Fifa responded and described the 57-year-old’s comments as “entirely inappropriate and completely unfounded”.
But Maradona has now moved to make peace with world football’s governing body by stressing that he simply got carried away in the moment.
“Taken by the thrill of cheering for Colombia the other day, I said a few things and, I admit, some of them are unacceptable,” he wrote on Instagram. “My apologies to Fifa and its president.
“However much that sometimes I may have opinions contrary to some refereeing decisions, I have absolute respect for the work – not easy – that the institution and the referees do.”
‘I was 13 when they named the squad for the Kennedy Cup. I wasn’t picked – I remember bawling my eyes out’
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Diego Maradona El Diez FIFA mark geiger World Cup