Feeling VARy upset
Nigeria complains about video review call against Argentina
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — After going out of the World Cup, Nigeria complained about not being awarded a second penalty in a 2-1 defeat to Argentina on Tuesday.
There were about 15 minutes of a tense game remaining, and Nigeria was enjoying a strong spell of pressure at St. Petersburg Stadium, when the latest video review talking point of the tournament came.
Marcos Rojo was the only Argentina defender in the penalty box, and under pressure from striker Odion Ighalo lurking behind him, when he jumped high to head Ahmed Musa’s deflected cross away from danger.
He didn’t succeed. Instead, the Manchester United defender completely mistimed the header and the ball ended up glancing off his left arm, and then falling invitingly to Ighalo near the penalty spot. Ighalo had lots of time to pick his spot, but blazed the ball wide of the left post.
Nigeria’s players were sure it was a penalty, however, and Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir — who awarded Nigeria a penalty early in the second half — used video to review this one and stood by his initial decision not to award a spot kick, much to the frustration of Nigeria’s players.
“I don’t understand how that was not a penalty,” captain John
Obi Mikel said. “It was a clear handball. If you look at this game yesterday against Portugal, this was even worse.”
Mikel was referring to Iran’s late penalty against Portugal in a 1-1 draw on Monday — awarded for a handball after a video review — and he felt Rojo got away with it. Rojo went on to score Argentina’s late winner to send his side through, and put Nigeria out.
“He (Rojo) had the ball and it hit his hand and it was open. Maybe the referee didn’t want to give a second penalty,” Mikel said. “For us, we’ve seen the replay, it was a clear handball. He looked at the VAR, the ball hit the hand.”
Mikel added: “I asked him for explanation, did the ball hit the hand? He said ‘Yes.’ Why is it not a penalty? He did not know.”
RUDY RULED OUT
KAZAN, Russia — Germany midfielder Sebastian Rudy has been ruled out of the team’s final group game against South Korea at the World Cup after suffering multiple fractures to his nose.
Coach Joachim Loew said Tuesday on the eve of the match that Rudy hadn’t recovered after undergoing surgery.
Rudy picked up the injury during his team’s 2-1 win over Sweden last week. He was forced to leave the pitch after a Swedish player’s boot slammed into his nose in the first half as he was on the ground.
MARADONA’S HEALTH OK?
Videos posted on social media show Diego Maradona needing help to leave the stands and move to an adjoining luxury box at the St. Petersburg stadium after watching Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 in a tense group match to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup.
In the video, the Argentine great appeared to have his eyes closed and a later photo showed a pair of paramedics attending to him.
There was no immediate information on his health. About two hours later, a photograph of Maradona smiling at the airport was posted online.
Stadium staff said they were unaware of any incidents involving Maradona, and staff from the Argentina football federation told reporters they had no comment except to say the 1986 World Cup winner was not formally part of the delegation.