Portugal centre-back Pepe and midfielder Bruno Fernandes blamed their country’s World Cup exit on the Argentine referee and Lionel Messi’s complaints. Morocco defeated Portugal 1-0 at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal.
The tournament will almost certainly be the last for a number of Portugal’s ageing stars, including Porto defender Pepe, who became the World Cup’s second-oldest scorer ever in a previous victory over Switzerland.
“We conceded a goal that we weren’t expecting but I have to say this is bigger than me and I’m going to have to say it…
“It’s unacceptable for an Argentine referee to referee our game. After what happened yesterday, with Messi talking, all of Argentina talking and the referee comes here to blow the whistle,”
he said.
Manchester United midfielder Fernandes agreed with Pepe, questioning why there isn’t a Portuguese referee at the tournament and dismissing claims that he dived.
“It’s very strange to have a referee who still has their national team in competition and we don’t have a Portuguese one.“
“I don’t know if they are going to hand the cup to Argentina.”
The shocking allegations against referee Facundo Tello come after Argentina advanced to the World Cup semifinals after a tense match against the Netherlands.
Messi scored and assisted in the 2-2 tie before scoring in the shootout to send La Albiceleste through. That quarterfinal was fraught with on-field brawls, a whopping 17 yellow cards, and one red card. Ten of those cards went to Lionel Scaloni’s men, while the remaining eight were shown to Dutch players, including a post-match red for Denzel Dumfries.
Also read 👉 FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Argentina over misconduct during World Cup quarterfinal
