“France fan in costume”: the referee in the England match

by time news

The quarter-final stage of the World Cup included many stories, and one of them was of course what had to do with the referees. Beyond Matthews Lehose who caused a stir in Argentina-Netherlands, in the match between England and France today (Saturday) referee Wilton Sampaio made headlines.

Sampaio whistled two penalties for England, issued two yellow cards and was criticized after, according to the English, he ignored a foul on Bokayo Saka in the first goal. In other moves, according to the English fans, he ignored whistles for their benefit.

Sampaio, a 41-year-old Brazilian, referees mainly in South American football and is therefore unknown to fans of European football. He is considered an experienced referee who has refereed international matches since 2013. He also refereed the last Brazilian Cup final, and the quarter-finals of the Copa America in 2019 and 2021.

The English fans, in an act of protest and desperation, changed Sampaio’s Wikipedia entry: “Wilton Sampaio is a French soccer referee who lost his guide dog. He can’t see without it, please bring him back,” it said. “It’s like he’s wearing a French national team shirt under his uniform,” the networks added.

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