Thomas Tuchel described the officiating at the World Cup as inconsistent and unpredictable, while also expressing his belief that England have what it takes to lift the trophy after their thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico.
Tuchel was visibly irritated after his team managed to cling on with ten men at the Azteca stadium on Sunday evening, criticising the overall standard of refereeing throughout the tournament. The German coach, frustrated by Jarell Quansah’s dismissal for a reckless tackle following a video assistant referee prompt, argued that players are left guessing what decisions will be made and cautioned that teams could be eliminated because of substandard officiating.
“It falls short of what’s required,” Tuchel said. “The referee can effectively dismiss any team at any moment. It’s simply not acceptable. It’s erratic, unreliable during matches. Now we have two fourth officials who shout at you the moment you step a foot outside the technical area. It’s nowhere near the level it should be.”
Tuchel was clearly annoyed with the on-field officials from the opening whistle against Mexico. He reacted furiously when Declan Rice received a yellow card from referee Alireza Faghani for a challenge inside the first minute.
England are considering whether to appeal Quansah’s red card for his tackle on Jesús Gallardo, in an attempt to prevent him from missing the quarter-final against Norway in Miami on Saturday.
Mexico’s second goal also stemmed from a VAR review that resulted in a penalty awarded for a foul by Harry Kane.
Tuchel, who has lost Jordan Henderson for the remainder of the competition after the midfielder fractured his wrist during the post-match celebrations, was asked if he would discuss the influence of VAR with his squad. “What can they do?” he replied. “We give everything and then decisions are reversed in a highly dubious manner.
“But it’s not just the major calls, it’s the minor ones too, the lack of consistency. You’re out there, it’s like being adrift, standing before a judge with no clue what will happen next. The officials simply aren’t performing at the required level.
“You’re competing at an elite level now. The so‑called underdogs, the so‑called smaller nations, like DR Congo we faced, they play at the very highest standard. Cape Verde perform at the highest standard. You need top‑tier officiating. The players out there are elite athletes. The game has evolved enormously and it’s just not up to scratch. It’s not fair on the players, or the sport.”
Do you honestly think that Harry, in that split second, is thinking ‘Oh, VAR!’? He simply goes for the ball and there’s contact — it’s a contact sport. We can’t freeze a still image and say: ‘Oh, contact, penalty.’
“In the flow of the game, the way it’s played and officiated in real time, some referees say: ‘No, I won’t allow much contact.’ Others say: ‘No, this is an emotional contest, I’ll let those contacts go.’ Contact happens. You can’t look at a still image and go: ‘There was a leg in between.’ Come on. You don’t even award a foul and then you go straight to a red card. You don’t give a foul and then you go to a penalty.”
The Football Association could base an appeal against Quansah’s red card on the precedent set by FIFA suspending United States striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban following his sending off against Bosnia-Herzegovina. France have already requested that Michael Olise’s yellow card against Paraguay be overturned.
Tuchel is hopeful that England will progress after overcoming Mexico’s impressive record at the Azteca. “It strengthens our conviction that we are here for the long run,” he said. “We are at a stage of the tournament, the round of 32 and round of 16, where you simply need to find a way to survive, a way to win. Then, from the quarter-finals onward, there are eight teams left and any side can go on to win it.
“We’ll stick to our motto, step by step, game by game. But of course, matches like this can only be won with belief, and it will only reinforce our belief.”
The one downside for England was Henderson’s injury, sustained when he slipped while leaping over an advertising board. The Brentford midfielder remained in hospital overnight accompanied by a member of the medical team and now requires surgery, ruling him out of any further involvement in the World Cup.
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