Referee Szymon Marciniak has hit back at French accusations of bias and that he should have disallowed Argentina’s third goal during the World Cup final.
The Polish official has been widely praised for his performance during football’s biggest showpiece event, in which Argentina claimed a third world title, defeating France on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw in Qatar. Lionel Messi (2) and Angel Di Maria found the net for the Albiceleste, while Kylian Mbappe struck a remarkable hat-trick for Les Bleus, with spot-kicks ultimately proving decisive.
However, in the days since, Marciniak’s performance has come under increased scrutiny, notably from the French side of the fence. Indeed, over 200,000 French fans have signed a petition to get the match replayed due to perceived ‘mistakes’.
The most notable of those is that Messi’s second goal of the game - which made it 3-2 to the eventual winners in extra-time - should have been chalked off, with match footage showing two substitutes were on the field of play as the Argentina captain hooked the ball over the line.
L’Equipe have fanned the flames, with an article ‘Why Argentina’s third goal shouldn’t have been awarded’.
They subsequently drew attention to Law 3, Paragraph 9 of the Laws of Football, which reads: “If, after a goal is scored, the referee becomes aware before play resumes that an additional person was on the pitch at the time the goal was scored: the referee must disallow the goal if the extra person was: a player, substitute, substituted player, sent off player or official of the team who scored the goal; play must be restarted with a direct free kick from the place where the extra person was.”
But Marciniak, speaking at a press event upon his welcome back to Poland, hit back at their comments. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he declared: “The French didn't mention this photo, where you can see how there are seven Frenchmen on the pitch when Mbappe scores a goal."
The photo in question he appeared to be showing was the scene as Mbappe scored from the penalty spot to make it 3-3 deep into extra time.
"First of all, to penalise this situation it should affect the game. What was the impact of the boys who got up and jumped onto the field?”
Indeed, the Polish official insisted L’Equipe’s criticism was mere water off a duck’s back, declaring: “Friends, great referees from France, wrote to me. The reception was great. Many professionals and footballers sent us congratulations and Kylian Mbappé said that we were great referees. What the players say matters.
"The French thanked us after the match, they were satisfied with the refereeing.”
