FIH Junior World Cup: Argentina head coach fumes as contentious goal takes Spain into final

The 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist, now mentoring the junior squad, alleged that referees 'f****d' his team during the tournament with cards, and the winning goal was “clearly not a goal”.

The incidents Gilardi referred to were, objectively, quite contentious and his Spanish counterpart Oriol Torras would sympathise later. Spain's Bruno Avila won the ball in midfield. (Hockey India Photo)

A tight semifinal between Spain and Argentina came down to a couple of controversial moments at the FIH Junior World Cup. A contentious Spanish goal in the 56th minute, eventually credited to Albert Serrahima, proved to be the difference as Argentina were beaten 1-2, leaving their head coach Juan Gilardi fuming.

The 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist, now mentoring the junior squad, alleged that referees ‘f****d’ his team during the tournament with cards, and the winning goal was “clearly not a goal”.

“Right now, I have to say that the umpires, they f****d us the whole tournament with cards. They think that we are the only team that is playing aggressively and we get a card for everything,” Gilardi told reporters, emotions still raw. “That (winning) goal was clearly not a goal. And on the other side, they say that it was a danger for the attacking team (when a penalty corner was denied to Argentina with two seconds left). The whole tournament, umpiring is really bad against Argentina but we have to deal with that also and try to be focused for the next match to play for the medal.”

The incidents Gilardi referred to were, objectively, quite contentious and his Spanish counterpart Oriol Torras would sympathise later. Spain’s Bruno Avila won the ball in midfield. His fierce long ball into the circle was lifted a few inches above the ground. Serrahima was tight to an Argentine defender as the ball whizzed past them. Argentina’s goalkeeper let the ball hit the back of the cage. The on-field referee signalled a goal and a long review process followed. After numerous replays, the TV umpire said no advice was possible on two counts: whether the ball was above knee height for danger and whether the Spanish player indeed got a touch. The two on-field officials decided to award the goal.

“Everyone saw it on the screen; it was nothing. You can never give a goal like that,” Gilardi claimed. “But I really think it was on purpose, the whole tournament against Argentina.”

Spain coach Torras was non-committal.

“I don’t know. No words, only this…,” he said, gesturing the Sign of the Cross, touching his forehead, chest and shoulders. What would he have thought if such a goal was given against his side?

“Ah, s**t, s**t. Yeah, of course (I have sympathy for Argentina). It’s difficult to lose in this form because of this goal.”

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Gilardi said the referees have been issuing cards against his players too freely. “If we push a little bit or something, it’s a card for Argentina. For the other teams, it’s just advice and no card or maybe a green card only.”