Bad blunder by referee helps Argentina qualify

Press, 24 June 1986, Page 29

Bad blunder by referee helps Argentina qualify

NZPA-AFP Mexico City An appalling refereeing decision cost England all hope of a World Cup semifinal place, according to its manager, Bobby Robson, following its 2-1 defeat by Argentina yesterday.

In a forthright and blunt attack on the Tunisian referee, Ali Bennaceur, a grim-faced Robson said Argentina’s first goal, which turned the match irreversibly in favour of the South Americans, should never have been allowed. “I am very unhappy about that first goal. It cost us the result,” he said. “It was blatant. The ball was’ in the air with

Maradona and our goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, going for it together with Shilton clear favourite to win the race. “It was obvious even from where I was sitting that Maradona handled the ball into the net. That was the way it looked to me and how could anyone disagree?” The 44-year-old Tunisian official, in his first World Cup finals, clearly

thought otherwise and allowed the fifty-first minute goal to stand. With a moment of magic four minutes later, Maradona scored again, through sheer brilliance. Robson added: “But I always said that the first goal would be the one to decide the match and I was right. “It was an appalling refereeing decision which should never be tolerated in a big match. We just do not expect that kind of thing at this level.” Robson, who had been openly critical of the Syrian, Jamal al Sharif, describing him as inexperienced before he officiated England’s second round match with Paraguay on Wednesday, refused to include F.I.F.A.’s refereeing committee in his critical outburst. “I have my own opinion

of the referee’s decision but it is up to F.I.F.A. to decide who they put in charge of these matches and I think they ought to be left alone to handle it.” Shilton, England’s vastly experienced 36-year-old goal-keeper, who had only conceded one goal in Mexico before yesterday, left the Aztec Stadium pitch head in hands and clearly unhappy. “He is very upset,” said Robson, “because he knew that he was not beaten. It was his ball until Maradona used his hand. Shilton should know, he was right on the spot.” Carlos Bilardo, the Argentinian manager, admitted that the first goal swung the match. “After that we could afford to relax,” he said. But hb angrily dismissed suggestions that the goal was

unfair. “I saw Maradona jump and head the ball into the net,” he said curtly. Maradona admitted that he handled the ball in scoring his first goal. Under relentless questioning from reporters after the match, Maradona acknowledged with a smile that the controversial goal was scored “a little with the hand of Diego and a little with the head of Maradona. "Let’s talk about that

goal some other time. Now we’re going to talk about the victory,” the 25-year-old captain said in the dressing room.

But he finally admitted that his hand hit the ball at the same time that he headed it past Shilton. Maradona was more eager to talk about his second goal, a stunning breakaway that Robson himself called “a miracle goal.” “The second goal was important because it put us out of danger,” he added but dismissed descriptions of it as “out of this world.” “It was a nice goal but not one of the wonders of the world. There’s only one wonder in this world and that’s Raquel Welch,” he said. He said Argentina deserved to win because they “were practically the only ones to attack.”