Fans riot, claim England was screwed over after France controversy
England fans are raging after multiple controversial moments during their blockbuster World Cup quarter-final loss to France.
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England fans claim their country was screwed over during their controversial quarter-final loss to France on Sunday morning.
There were multiple occasions where England players, commentators and fans were up in arms during the thrilling 2-1 defeat.
Fans and commentators were ready to throw their remote control at the TV set in the first half when France’s first goal through Aurelien Tchouameni came after England’s Bukayo Saka appeared to be fouled. It was followed by an even bigger outburst when Harry Kane’s shouts for a penalty were ignored, despite referee Wilton Sampaio reviewing the footage through the VAR.
Replays showed there was soft contact on the edge of the penalty area before Kane fell.
The divisive call was clear-cut for some England commentators.
Manchester United great Gary Neville was more angry about the referee’s failure to award Saka a free kick when he appeared to be taken out by Dayot Upamecano before Tchouameni’s goal.
“It’s a simple decision. He kicks his leg away – I’m not sure why that isn’t a foul,” Neville said on ITV.
“He’s nibbled and he’s kicked him. It should be a free kick.”
Neville was even more upset at the referee at full time.
“He had an absolute nightmare. A joke of a referee,” he said.
“I’m not saying it was all down to England’s defeat – people will say it is excuses – but he’s just a bad referee, rank bad.”
Tchouameni gave France a 1-0 lead at half time after his thunderbolt strike.
It was the first goal England has conceded from outside of the box since the 2014 World Cup and was France’s first from that distance in this tournament.
But England players were up in arms.
📸 - The England players are angry as they complain for a foul on Saka before the goal. pic.twitter.com/267SQbF3f4
— ð€ð…ð‚ ð€ð‰ð€ð— 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) December 10, 2022
foul on saka but cheating refs at it again
— george (@StokeyyG2) December 10, 2022
How much the officials got on France then.
— Jack 'Pie' McDermott (@the_pieface) December 10, 2022
Socceroos great Mark Bosnich said in the SBS studio it was a definite foul on Saka.
“Upamecano has caught him, definitely. All the players stop,” Bosnich said. “He nibbled, nibbled and then whacks him. The referee may not have been in a good position but the assistant referee was next to it. He should have stopped the play.”
The complaints kept coming when Harry Kane went down in the box about 10 minutes later.
It appeared to be a clumsy challenge by Dayot Upamencano, who tugged Kane back before their legs tangled.
But after a long look it was ruled no penalty and England remained frustrated as the first period came to an end.
Former Socceroo Craig Foster believed Kane was fouled — but outside of the box.
“It was clear on the replays,” Foster said in the SBS studio. “He tangles with him and he’s tangled with the leg that is standing outside the box. Therefore, I don’t believe it should have been brought back for a penalty.”
It was early in the second half when Brazilian referee Sampaio’s Wikipedia page was changed.
A cheeky fan wrote: “Wilton Pereira Sampaio is a French fan and a Brazilian football referee.
“He is currently under investigation for falsely not awarding a penalty to England after Harry Kane was assaulted.”
There was one final controversial decision that left England players and fans unhappy when Kane was handed his second penalty of the night deep into the second half.
Theo Hernandez had brought down Chelsea’s Mason Mount with a clumsy shove inside the penalty area and it was initially waived away by the referee.
After reviewing the footage a penalty was awarded, but Hernandez was only issued a yellow card despite being the final defender.
The look on Jude Bellingham’s face said everything.
Originally published as Fans riot, claim England was screwed over after France controversy
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