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18:59 Editorial

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FIFA prepares punishments for World Cup critics

2026-07-15 20:39:00, Sport CNA

The World Cup is coming to an end, but besides the matches and results, another topic has been constantly accompanying the tournament. It is about the debates about refereeing and the numerous reactions of coaches and players to the referees' decisions.

According to recent reports, FIFA is not expected to take immediate action against those who criticized the referees during the competition. The world football organization has decided to wait until the tournament is over and then analyze each case individually. Any possible decision will be based on the official referee reports and disciplinary documentation of the matches.

One of the most controversial cases involved England manager Thomas Tuchel. After his team's victory over Mexico in the round of 16, in which defender Quansah was sent off, the England manager openly criticized Australian referee Alireza Faghani. Tuchel said the referee was unpredictable and inconsistent in his decision-making, adding that the standard of refereeing was not up to the standard required for such a competition.

Another episode that caused strong reactions was related to Egypt's elimination by Argentina in the round of 16. Coach Hossam Hassan claimed that the match was influenced by factors that went beyond what happened on the pitch. According to him, the pressure exerted on French referee Letexier before the match had an impact on the way the match was conducted.

There were also controversies in the quarter-final between Switzerland and Argentina. Defender Manuel Akanji reacted after his team's elimination, stating that during the match he had the feeling that almost every small decision was going in favor of the opponent. The Swiss footballer said that he had rarely experienced such a controversial refereeing as that of Portuguese Joao Pinheiro in that challenge.

FIFA's director of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has come out in defense of referees. The former renowned Italian referee has stressed that the integrity of referees should not be questioned. According to him, public accusations against referees can create serious consequences, not only for the referees themselves, but also for their families, bringing unnecessary pressure and threats.

As the World Cup enters its final phase, it remains to be seen whether FIFA will decide to intervene with concrete measures against individuals who have publicly opposed the refereeing.