Referee Faghani breaks silence on Mexico-England World Cup clash

After England's manager slammed the officiating, the man in the middle tells his side of the story.

What happened. Referee Alireza Faghani gives his version of events after England's manager Thomas Tuchel called the officiating 'just not good enough' in the fiery last-16 tie.

• Faghani was asleep in the locker room before the match, snoring loudly.
• Mexico had not lost a competitive game at the Azteca since 2013.
• The stadium is 2,240 metres above sea level, affecting oxygen levels.

“The noise was unbelievable”

— Alireza Faghani

Faghani's account offers a rare referee's perspective on a controversial World Cup match.

In this story

MexicoEngland

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