There have been some claims of Argentina receiving preferential treatment during the World Cup. (Image: Getty)
England have been sent a warning ahead of the World Cup semi-final with Argentina on Wednesday as refereeing decisions come under the spotlight. Thomas Tuchel’s side play the current holders in Atlanta on Wednesday night (8pm).
A 2-1 extra-time win over Norway, thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace, saw them make their way into the semi-final and set up the clash against Lionel Messi’s Argentina. The South American side also needed extra time to overcome Switzerland in their quarter-final in the early hours of Sunday.
Argentina came out as 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. It was a game that saw Switzerland reduced to 10-men in the second half with Breel Embolo shown a second yellow card.
A new rule contributed to the decision, made after a VAR review. Argentina’s Leandro Paredes was initially booked for a challenge on the Switzerland forward, but replays showed that there was no contact.
The ‘mistaken identity’ rule was implemented and after reviewing the footage on the pitchside monitor, referee Joao Pedro Silva Pinheiro cancelled Paredes’ booking and instead cautioned Embolo for simulation.
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Switzerland were reduced to 10 men vs Argentina (Image: Getty)
After the game, Switzerland boss Mura Yakin said the rule was ‘unacceptable’ as he showed his anger. He wasn’t the only member of his team to show his disappointment at refereeing decisions.
Speaking to the media after full-time, defender Manuel Akanji said: “When you have the referee against you, it becomes difficult.
“Every little thing was called against us. Every dive and every foul by the Argentinians went unpunished. I don’t usually say anything against the officials, but I’ve never experienced such a one-sided game as today.
“As soon as the game was over, I thought: I’m so proud of our team. What we’ve achieved throughout the entire tournament, and especially today… We played against the world champions, and they didn’t stand a chance.
“I can’t recall a single scoring opportunity from open play where we were lucky. If the game had continued 11 against 11, it would have likely gone in our favour.”
There have been claims from fans of the reigning World champions receiving preferential treatment from referees throughout the tournament. There was criticism of a decision to disallow an Egypt goal in the round of 16 match last week.
Mostafa Zico’s strike after a brilliant team move was ruled out after a VAR review, due to a foul on Lisandro Martinez at the start of the move. Zico did later put Egypt 2-0 up, but Argentina completed a comeback through late goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez.
There were also some claims that Egypt should have been awarded a penalty before Fernandez’s injury-time winner.
Some fans have also called for Lautaro Martinez to be suspended for the match against England, after he wasn’t cautioned for jumping the pitchside barrier to celebrate his goal with fans. If he had have been booked, it would have been his second yellow card of the game.
England will hope that they are not on the end of any controversial decisions when they take on Argentina in the final. Should they overcome their opponent, they will play in their first World Cup final since winning the tournament in 1966.