Argentina legend Diego Maradona has slammed the referee's performance in Colombia's clash with England, claiming that it was "a monumental theft" that the South American side didn't progress.
Jordan Pickford helped the Three Lions end their penalty shootout hoodoo and reach the World Cup quarter-finals at the expense of the South American outfit in Moscow.
After decades stewing on his Euro 96 semi-final miss against Germany, Gareth Southgate has spent recent months trying to improve their chances in Russia if it went all the way.
Things looked set to go pear-shaped when Jordan Henderson's penalty was saved, only for Mateus Uribe's spot-kick to rattle the bar and goalkeeper Pickford to deny Carlos Bacca.
In an astonishing rant on Argentinian TV, Maradona slammed referee Mark Geiger and his decisions, whilst also suggesting that Head of Referees Pierluigi Collina should apologise to Colombia.
As quoted by the Mirror, Maradona stated: "I saw a monumental theft. I apologise to all the Colombian people, but they must know the players are not to blame.
"It is the man who decides who the referee is who is to blame. A man like that (Geiger) should not be put in charge of a game of that magnitude.
"With all due respect, Pierluigi Collina, as the man who designates the referees, he is very bad. He must apologise to the Colombian people.
"I told (FIFA president) Gianni Infantino that if I worked for FIFA I would change everything. It has to be transparent. That's why I didn't go there.
"The referee will know a lot about baseball, but he has no idea about football. The Colombian players asked for VAR and he did not give it to them.
"Twice the English threw themselves to the ground and he did not admonish them. This was theft."
World Cup 2018 winner (odds via Sky Bet)
- Brazil - 5/2
- England - 4/1
- France - 4/1
- Belgium - 6/1
- Croatia - 13/2
- Uruguay - 14/1
- Russia - 20/1
- Sweden - 22/1
The Three Lions took the lead in the first-half thanks to Harry Kane's second-half penalty, but Maradona believes that the referee made the wrong decision.
"The penalty was not a foul. In fact, it was Kane's fault.
"The referee is looking somewhere else and when he turns his head, Kane is on the floor.
"Kane used his arm to hook Sanchez and then threw himself down.
"I repeat, why didn't the referee ask for the VAR? Colombia died standing. That's why I applaud them."
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