'fifa should investigate'
England fans slate ‘biased’ ref Cuneyt Cakir after agonising World Cup semi-final defeat against Croatia
Turk accused of 'disgraceful' and 'embarrassing' display as the Three Lions led before losing 2-1 after extra time
ENGLAND fans slammed "biased" and "embarrassing" referee Cuneyt Cakir after tonight's agonising World Cup semi-final exit against Croatia.
Some critics on social media even called for a Fifa investigation over a "disgrace to sport".
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Turk Cakir was mostly accused of giving free-kicks "every time a Croatia player goes down" while not punishing clear fouls from the East Europeans.
One supporter tweeted: "Can we sub the ref? I mean honestly he's an embarrassment for a World Cup semi-final. Hopeless."
Cakir also allowed Ivan Perisic a contentious equaliser, with some pundits claiming his foot was high as he stabbed the ball home.
Manchester United supporters, in particular, were furious - remembering how he sent Nani off for a high boot on Real Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa in a 2013 Champions League tie.
England players heartbroken and in tears as Croatia celebrate semi-final World Cup win
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England captain Harry Kane reacts as England are knocked out of the World Cup by Croatia
Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic went on to poach Croatia's extra-time winner as the Three Lions failed to reach what would have been only their second ever World Cup final.
One woman tweeted: "Surely @FifaWorldCup should be investigating Cuneyt Cakir after this performance. Completely biased throughout. A disgrace to the sport."
And another armchair critic said: "'Cuneyt Cakir' is Turkish for 'Mike Dean'. As in 'I'm going to to Cuneyt Cakir this game and make it all about me."
Mark Halsey's verdict on the Croatia equaliser
REFEREE Cuneyt Cakir made the correct call in allowing Croatia’s equaliser to stand.
Kyle Walker stooped to head the ball and, while Ivan Perisic’s foot was off the ground, there was no chance of the goal being disallowed.
Cakir previously sent off Nani — then of Manchester United — for high feet against Real Madrid but this was a totally different situation.
Nani was much higher, connecting with Alvaro Arbeloa’s ribs, while Perisic was at a fair height after stealing in at the back post as Walker ducked.
The Turkish official also made the right decision by not awarding Croatia a first-half penalty.
Dejan Lovren was looking for a spot-kick when he was held by Harry Maguire at the end of the opening period.
There was a nudge by Maguire but football is a contact sport and that was not a penalty for me. VAR looked at the incident but it was not a clear and obvious error so they correctly chose not to review it.
It was a subjective call and went with the referee’s original decision, which I felt was the right thing to do.
Cakir kept a low profile and I thought he produced a fantastic display, although the players’ behaviour was exceptional.
Yes, Lovren committed three fouls in the opening 26 minutes but those are the sort of challenges a referee should manage at this level.
However, the Liverpool defender was one foul away from a caution for persistent infringement of the laws of the game. The officials did get one decision wrong when Harry Kane hit a post.
The England skipper was onside but his shot hit the keeper, the woodwork and then the keeper again before the ball span off and a corner kick should have been awarded.
But England were denied a set-piece because assistant Tarik Ongun had wrongly signalled for offside — though that would have been overturned by VAR had Kane hit the net.
Cakir was correct to award yellow cards to both Mario Mandzukic for a reckless use of the arm and Kyle Walker for delaying the restart of play.
VAR also checked for a handball by Walker and possible foul by Jesse Lingard but the system worked well and again there was no reason for a review.
Ante Rebic was then correctly cautioned for bringing down Danny Rose in the first period of extra-time.
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But one fan claimed the ref was biased IN FAVOUR of England.
Hr posted: "Apparently penalty kicks when players are pushed inside the area are only for England. Terrible refereeing. Cuneyt Cakir biased towards the 'richest', as he always is in the Champions League. Shameful."
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