Bruno Fernandes ranted about the officiating in Portugal’s shock 1-0 World Cup quarter-final loss to Morocco after full-time.
The Manchester United playmaker said that the man in charge, Facundo Tello, wasn’t up to the task of such a high-profile game and questioned why an Argentine was selected for the game while his country is still in the competition.
Argentina are on the other side of the draw but could have met Portugal in the final if both sides were successful. Fernando Santos’ men had a number of penalty appeals turned down by Tello with Fernandes himself being at the centre of one of them.
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Both at half-time and full-time, Portugal players approached the referee remonstrating at his non-decisions. After the match, a Portugal Football Federation official had tried to calm Fernandes down when speaking to the media, to which the 28-year-old retorted (as per GOAL ): "Don't touch me, I'll say what I have to say. F*** them…”
He added: “I have to say that it is very strange to have a referee refereeing us from a country [Argentina] that still has its team in the competition and we don't have Portuguese referees in the World Cup.
“Ours referee the Champions League, so they have the quality and level to be here. These officials don't referee in the Champions League, they're not used to this type of game, they don't have the pace for it. They clearly tilted the field.
"In the first half there is a clear penalty on me, without a doubt any, because I am isolated and never in my life let myself fall, when I was alone with the goalkeeper and could shoot at the goal. As simple as that."
It was a sour end to what was a productive tournament for Fernandes. He ended the finals with two goals and three assists in three outings.
Meanwhile, there is an injury concern for United over Diogo Dalot, who was forced off with what looked like a hamstring problem. Former United star Cristiano Ronaldo exited the pitch in dismay too, leaving the world stage in tears at full-time in what is expected to be his final World Cup.
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