CHRISTIAN PULISIC LEFT SEETHING AFTER REFEREE SNUBBED HIM AS US DUMPED OUT OF COPA AMERICA
Following a fiery encounter at Copa America, Referee Kevin Ortega brazenly refused to shake hands with the captain of the United States, Christian Pulisic, as the USMNT suffered defeat against Uruguay.
Knowing full well that qualifying for the knockout stages was hanging in the balance, the "Stars and Stripes" began their final Group C match with optimism following a triumphant game against Bolivia. However, they stumbled at the second hurdle after suffering a 2-1 loss to Panama, leaving their fate in the tournament in the hands of their final confrontation in the group stages.
Despite attempts to rally the team, Gregg Berhalter's squad was unable to turn their fortune around and fell to a 1-0 defeat against Uruguay. The encounter wasn't without major controversy, however, amid messy calls from officials and rising tensions in Kansas City.
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In one divisive moment, the referee upheld Mathias Olivera's winning goal for Uruguay despite possible offside indications. This, along with Chris Richards' first-half booking under unclear circumstances further fuelled the unruly atmosphere.
As the US team's shot at the tournament came crashing down at Arrowhead Stadium, upset captain Pulisic raged at the inconsistencies pointing at the referee and asking: "Why aren't you over there with them? " In response to this confrontation, Ortega went on to snub Pulisic by refusing to shake the AC Milan forward's hand.
Reflecting on the shocking events of the match, he commented: "He wouldn't shake my hand. It's normal -- I mean, I guess," before launching into a critique of the officials, stating: "Honestly, I mean I saw things that I've never seen before right in front of my eyes today that I just I truly I can't believe.
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It's not why we lost; we're not out of this tournament because of officiating. But really, I've just seen things that I just really -- I mean I think everyone can just give admit I don't know what I'm looking at. I don't know what they're calling. I don't know what he's -- he gives no explanation. He's doing things that I just can't accept.
USMNT head coach Berhalter echoed his player's sentiments, remarking: "It's pretty crazy, really. I don't understand it. You know, I feel like I know the rule pretty well. I feel like we had the pictures that are showing how the rule could be interpreted and it's an offside goal. It's disappointing, it really is, but you know, that happens in football and we have to live with it, obviously.
Berhalter also expressed disappointment over his team's overall performance at Copa America, admitting: "Totally disappointed with the results. We know that we're capable of more. And, in this one, we didn't show it. It's really as simple as that.
I think that you look at the stage that was set with the fans in this tournament, with a high level of competition in this tournament, and we should have done better. We'll do a review and figure out what went wrong, why it went wrong, but I think it's an empty feeling right now for sure."
2024-07-02T11:09:14Z dg43tfdfdgfd
