Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has insisted that France were wrongly awarded a penalty during Sunday’s 2018 World Cup final with Croatia.
Referee Nestor Pitana initially missed Ivan Perisic’s handball inside the France box, but the official opted the award the spot kick following a VAR review.
Perisic’s view appeared to be blocked by Blaise Matuidiimmediately before the ball struck the Inter Milan winger’s arm, and Gallagher has insisted that it was “100% not a penalty”.
“100% not a penalty. He’s far, far too close to the ball as it comes over the forward’s head,” Gallagher told Sky Sports News.
“It just strikes him – he doesn’t move his hand to the ball, he’s got no intention of handling the ball. The law says it has to be deliberate. His arms aren’t in an unorthodox position – it just doesn’t tick any boxes.”
Antoine Griezmann scored the resulting penalty to send France 2-1 ahead in Moscow, and Les Bleus ultimately claimed the trophy with a 4-2 success over Croatia.