Liverpool target Dejan Lovren blasts World Cup referee after Brazil penalty as Croatia star says 'I am angry, I want to cry!'

  • Dejan Lovren has blasted referee Yuichi Nishimura for his refereeing display
  • Nishimura awarded Brazil a penalty for Lovren's foul on Fred in Croatia's Group A match against the hosts
  • Lovren questioned Nishimura's appointment due to his lack of English
  • Vedran Corluka echoed Lovren's sentiments sarcastically stating Brazil should be given the World Cup if referees continue 'embarrassing' decisions
  • Croatia lost 3-1 to Brazil in the World Cup opening game on Thursday
  • Neymar double and Oscar strike cancel out Marcelo's own goal

By Matt Lawton

Published: 05:51 EST, 13 June 2014 | Updated: 19:20 EST, 13 June 2014

Dejan Lovren, the Croatian player at the centre of the penalty storm that overshadowed the opening game here in Sao Paulo, has declared that ‘they might as well give Brazil the World Cup’ now.

Stunned by Yuichi Nishimura’s decision to award a penalty against him for what the Japanese referee thought was a foul on Fred, Southampton defender Lovren echoed his coach, Niko Kovac, in tearing into the official.

Asked if he felt the referee had favoured the hosts, Lovren - who is a reported target for Liverpool this summer - said: ‘Maybe yes, maybe no. 

Fuming: Dejan Lovren (left) has blasted Brazil should be given the World Cup following their opening win

Fuming: Dejan Lovren (left) has blasted Brazil should be given the World Cup following their opening win

Controversial: Lovren (centre) gave away a penalty for a foul on Fred (bottom) during their Group A match

Controversial: Lovren (centre) gave away a penalty for a foul on Fred (bottom) during their Group A match

Poor display: Lovren (left) has criticised referee Yuichi Nishimura (top) for his refereeing display

Poor display: Lovren (left) has criticised referee Yuichi Nishimura (top) for his refereeing display

 

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‘But if it is like this, then we can give the World Cup directly to Brazil.

‘It is not just difficult for me to take, but for everyone who watched this game. I think it was two billion people. I think it is a shame. A big shame for this mistake. I cannot agree with this.’

He continued: ‘Of course I am angry. I want to cry now but what can you do? If you saw the game you saw everything so I don't need to explain.

‘I was asking the referee how can you do this to us? And then it was a shame. He didn't know what to say. The problem is that the referee doesn't speak English.

‘It is a shame that he cannot explain to me or to anyone else in English. How can any referee be in the World Cup for that?’

Lovren was supported by his central defensive partner, Vedran Corluka. 

‘I think it is embarrassing,’ he said. ‘I think if this continues then no one should play against Brazil. We should just give them the World Cup and everyone can go home.’

Unhappy: Vedran Corluka (right) felt Nishimura gave every 50/50 decision in Brazil's favour on Thursday

Unhappy: Vedran Corluka (right) felt Nishimura gave every 50/50 decision in Brazil's favour on Thursday

He too was asked if he thought the referee favoured the hosts. ‘Everyone saw that, not just Croatian players,’ said Corluka. ‘Every 50/50 decision went to Brazilian players and I think Neymar elbowed Luca (Modric). After that he gives the penalty. We scored a goal, he disallowed a goal. It was quite embarrassing. Because it was the opening of the World Cup and you expect something more.

‘He was keen to give the penalty, it happens, it is over now. After that he wanted to give something to us, it was quite funny. I don't think he should be allowed to referee another game.

‘The players are disappointed. But the coach said we need to think about the second game. I congratulate Brazil but they didn't deserve to win today.

Language: Lovren (centre) and Corluka have both questioned Nishimura's inability to speak English

Language: Lovren (centre) and Corluka have both questioned Nishimura's inability to speak English

‘I don't blame them but I have never seen a referee in a World Cup that doesn't speak English. It is quite, I don't know how to say it, amazing. He was trying to speak to the players in Japanese. It is ridiculous.

‘He was speaking Japanese but no one could understand him because we don't have Japanese players.’

World Cup opening ceremony by numbers
World Cup opening ceremony by numbers

 

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"¿I don't blame them but I have never seen a referee in a World Cup that doesn't speak English." Rule of thumb: Referees are NOT required to explain to players about decisions they made. It'd be much wise of them to stop whining and adjust to the international rules if winning the worldcup is what they want to do. Brazil was wiser, more focused, knew better how to handle the situation that they weren't familiar with.

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As a retired referee (46 years) I would have awarded a penalty. Not because the Brazilian fell over, but because one of the replays showed that the Croatian was holding him by both shoulders and pulling him back off the ball and then as soon as the Brazilian started falling he let go, lifted his arms and claimed he did nothing. Unfortunately this replay appears to have only been shown once.

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we can see why you are retired you probably got the boot no it wasnt a penalty it was call by a muppet ref.

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As a retired referee (46) years) I would have awarded a penalty. Not because the Brazilian player fell over, but because one of the replays clearly showed the he was pulled backwards off the ball. As soon as he was off the ball the Croatian lifted his arms to make out as he had not done anything.

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Why does FIFA insist that football refereeing remain in the dark ages when every possible angle of the action is already filmed and can be quickly replayed to see exactly what happened - what do you think Mr Sepp Blatter?

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The refereeing is putting me off football. Its becoming like witching Wrestling.

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And it begins.... I must say all refs should know how to speak English.

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Are Referees even required to explain the decisions they made? Obviously not in the international football communities. Yes for premiere? Then again it's the world's most aggressive league... :P

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Pity technology is restricted to the goal line in this world cup, the penalty was a blatent dive, and Neymar should have been sent off for violent play.

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Nottingham forest against anderlecht in the 1970s, some very peculiar ref decisions, Cloughie furious and said it was a fix, people thought sour grapes until several years later it was found president of Anderlecht bribed the ref. so don't think match fixing does not happen. With the volatile civil situation in Brazil the home team cannot be allowed to lose - fact

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No Southampton player not Liverpool target

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Think I'll be throwing a few quid on Brazil winning the WC. Croatia deserved a draw at least last night

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