FIFA's Pierluigi Collina responds to Didier Deschamps' refereeing criticism
FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina has defended official Ivan Barton after France boss Didier Deschamps questioned his performance following their World Cup semi-final exit.
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Following France's semi-final exit, manager Didier Deschamps publicly questioned the capabilities of Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton. The French coach was particularly frustrated by a penalty decision against Lucas Digne, as well as the reversal of a free-kick in France's favor after consultation with assistant officials.
If I say anything, I'll look like a sore loser because we lost. But I ask you: is the referee up to the task of officiating a semi-final? Didier Deschamps
FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, was quick to address the concerns. The legendary former referee firmly stood behind Barton and dismissed suggestions that the officiating team was unequipped for such a high-stakes fixture.
In response to the comments of Didier Deschamps questioning if the referee had the level to direct a semi-final, FIFA is clear: 'Yes, definitely'. Our referees are world class. Pierluigi Collina
While the focus on officiating dominated the post-match talk, Deschamps also admitted that France's own performance was below par. The team struggled to break down Spain's defense and was hampered by technical errors throughout the match, falling short of reaching a third consecutive final.