‘INJUSTICE’: Spanish newspapers hit out at English referee Anthony Taylor – and have a dig at French paper L’Equipe – over Kylian Mbappe’s ‘offside’ Nations League winner in a final shrouded in controversy
The Spanish press have slammed as an ‘injustice’ the decision to allow Kylian Mbappe’s winner for France to stand in the UEFA Nations League final.
Spain fell to a 2-1 defeat in the showpiece on Sunday night but the decisive goal came in controversial fashion.
Paris Saint-Germain star forward Mbappe slotted the ball home after clearly being in an offside position.
The Spanish press have slammed the official’s decision to allow Kylian Mbappe’s winner for France to stand in the UEFA Nations League final. SPORT’s headline on Monday read: ‘Injustice’
Mbappe scored the goal after Theo Hernandez played the ball in behind the Spanish defence. However, he was clearly offside before slotting it under goalkeeper Unai Simon
Mbappe struck in the 80th minute to seal a 2-1 victory over Spain in Nations League final
Footage of the incident showed that Mbappe was standing behind Spain’s last man when the ball was played.
However, the match officials – which included Premier League referee Anthony Taylor – felt that Spain defender Eric Garcia had deliberately touched the ball. Therefore, they treated everything after that moment as a new phase of play.
As it stands, the rules currently state that ‘a player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball, including deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage’.
Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets criticised VAR for allowing the 80th-minute winner to stand and the Spanish papers have also lamented the decision.
SPORT’s headline on Monday morning screamed: ‘Injustice.’
MARCA’s read: ‘They are changing football.’
Meanwhile AS remained positive about their national team’s display on Sunday night with the headline: ‘No title, but with a future.’
France newspaper L’Equipe ignored the controversial offside call on the front page of their edition on Monday.
Marca point this out on their website, with one sub-heading reading: ‘L’Equipe, no mention on offside.’
MARCA’s headline read: ‘They are changing football,’ while AS remained positive about their national team’s display on Sunday night with the headline: ‘No title, but with a future’
France newspaper L’Equipe did not mention the controversial offside call at all in their edition
Speaking after the game Busquets said: ‘The referee told us that Eric Garcia wanted to play the ball and that kills the offside… But he wanted to play the ball because the ball would have reached Mbappe who was offside! It doesn’t make sense!’
Garcia added: ‘Mbappe is offside. The referee tells me that I tried to play the ball. What should I do? Step aside and let him run? Apparently that’s the rule.’
Cesar Azpilicueta told Sky Sports: ‘The referee is there to make decisions. What I’m more disappointed (about) is that the referee who makes the decision is not Mr Anthony Taylor who was here, it’s the one who is in the VAR. I think the monitor is there to use it.
‘Every time we have meetings with the referees we say the same and I don’t know why he didn’t go to the monitor and see for himself if it’s deliberate play or not.
‘The offside is very clear and the referee watching the reviews in the office says that he can play the ball, which I don’t think so.’
Spain boss Luis Enrique was equally as annoyed but kept his cards close to his chest, saying: ‘Difficult. I would like to talk but I’m not going into that. I’ve nothing to say.’
Officials felt that Spain defender Eric Garcia (above) had deliberately touched the ball before it reached Mbappe. Therefore, they treated everything after that moment as a new phase of play
