Socceroos star leads outcry at referee's 'stinker' as controversy strikes
Nestory Irankunda claimed referee Felix Zwayer had a “stinker” with the whistle in Australia’s 2-0 World Cup loss to the United States in Seattle.
The Socceroos striker copped some physical treatment in the second half, with one Chris Richards challenge prompting the usually measured David Basheer to leap to his defence on SBS.
Nestory Irankunda of Australia reacts. Getty
“Oh no, that’s got to be a foul, doesn’t it? He’s body-checked Nestory. What is he seeing? That is a crazy non-call by the referee. I’m sorry,” Basheer fumed.
Only the most one-eyed Aussie fan would claim the Socceroos were the better side as the USA marched into the round of 32 with a group game to play.
But Tony Popovic’s troops felt they could have made it a closer contest if some calls had gone their way.
“The ref was having a stinker today,” Irankunda said of the 45-year-old German.
“But it is what it is. He was giving every call to the USA. I get it, but, at the same time, there’s two teams on the field, so you have to give the calls both ways. And he didn’t do that today.”
Socceroos defender Cameron Burgess coughed up an 11th-minute own goal before VAR intervened for Alex Freeman’s second just before half-time.
Popovic confronted the officials after the full-time whistle seeking an explanation. He believes USA striker Folarin Balogun had interfered with Socceroos goalkeeper Patrick Beach from an offside position for Freeman’s goal.
“I’m not sure on that one. We felt that, but unfortunately that didn’t go our way,” Popovic said.
Mathew Leckie of Australia is blocked by referee Felix Zwayer. Getty
“Today was, I wouldn’t say the best day for the referee. Certainly we felt we were Australia today with the referees.”
Connor Metcalfe also had a second-half penalty claim waved away.
“I thought the referee gave too many fouls away, in all honesty,” Popovic said.
“Sometimes you didn’t have to do much to win a foul, and on the other occasions you had to do a fair bit to get one. But that’s for the referees to assess their referee.”
The USA were awarded 16 fouls and Australia 12.
Zwayer started cramping in second-half added time but was able to finish the game.
Germany’s referee Felix Zwayer is assisted by Australia’s Aiden O’Neill after cramping. AP Photo/Manu Fernandez
“The ref was guessing a lot of the time, which frustrated everyone,” Stan Sport’s Adam Peacock told SEN’s The Global Game.
“He wasn’t quite sure of himself. I just felt that he was guessing a lot of the time, which frustrated the players. They were getting really annoyed, frustrated.
“They were getting some calls, not all. On another day, we get a couple of penalties, but this is not another day, it’s a one-off day at a World Cup game.”
