Online Reporter
JESSE MARSCH had to be physically held back by one of his own players as he tried to protest a referee decision.
The co-hosts went into the half-time break goalless against South Africa in the first knockout game of the 2026 World Cup.
But in the dying minutes of the half, Richie Laryea appeared to be brought down in the box by South Africa defender Khuliso Mudau.
Replays showed a heavy coming together between the two just inside the area.
But a tiny touch on the ball from the defender gave VAR enough room to decide that the on-field decision was correct. The half continued for a few minutes before it was drawn to a close.
But rather than use the time to address his players and try to find a way to break the deadlock, Canada boss and former Leeds manager Marsch stormed the pitch and attempted to confront the officials.
His own player, Moise Bombito, headed him off on the grass and tried to talk him down, before physically trying to stop him walking further onto the field. And ex-England striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio: The referee has done great.
“You just want to keep your manager away, Moise Bombito has done well there saying to Jesse Marsch ‘get yourself away.’
“What he’s so incensed about, I don’t know.”
But he may have had a point with his initial grievances, with ref expert Christina Unkel saying: “I would prefer to see a penalty given and an on-field recommendation.
“A good example is Vinicius Jr against Scotland. These are the ones that are up for debate. In my personal opinion, I think that’s a foul and a penalty.” But she would walk back that opinion soon after, adding during the half-time break: “The one thing that the VAR is going to say is that small and slight touch will make that not a clear and obvious error.
“It was a good sight by VAR to be able to see that with their camera angles and not recommend it be given a penalty.
“But then it comes to the debate of when can a player step into another’s space before that becomes contact which is not acceptable.” – Sun.
