The petition calls for FIFA to review two key decisions and replay the game “in order to set a precedent for fair play”.
Over 200,000 people have signed a petitiondemanding that England’s tempestuous World Cup second round affair with Colombia is replayed.
The petition was started two days ago when Gareth Southgate’s men won via a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
It argues that the Three Lions were awarded their second-half penalty for “a non-existent foul” and that Colombian striker Carlos Bacca’s extra-time goal should have been allowed to stand.
The petition calls for FIFA “to review these two actions, in order to set a precedent for fair play”.
Bacca had found the net after referee Mark Geiger had already halted proceedings, with England defender Harry Maguire distracted by a second ball that would have come on the pitch had the assistant not stopped it.
England went ahead on the night through Kane’s 57th-minute penalty, given after American referee Mark Geiger deemed ex-Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez had illegally wrestled him to the ground at a corner.
Colombia players promptly surrounded the official, haranguing him for three minutes, before Kane fired home.
Bacca had found the net after referee Geiger had already called a halt to proceedings, with England defender Harry Maguire distracted by a second ball that would have come on the pitch had the assistant not stooped to stop it.
Los Cafeteros coach Jose Pekerman has since argued that Southgate’s side “fall in the box” and blamed “confusion” over the amount of physical contact tolerated at corners; deliveries into the box were continually halted by the referees’ whistle as players from both sides pulled and grabbed at one another.
Argentina legend Diego Maradona, a World Cup winner in 1986, was also angry with the decisions during the match and with Geiger’s performance, that he called the result a “monumental robbery”.
made by Diego Armando Maradona in relation to Tuesday’s round of 16 game, Colombia v England, FIFA strongly rebukes the criticism of the performance of the match officials which it considers to have been positive in a tough and highly emotional match.
“Furthermore, it also considers the additional comments and insinuations made as being entirely inappropriate and completely unfounded.
“At a time when FIFA is doing everything within its power to ensure principles of fair play, integrity and respect are at the forefront of this World Cup and how the organisation is now run, FIFA is extremely sorry to read such declarations from a player who has written the history of our game.
Credit :mirror.co.uk