Ian Wright labels Edinson Cavani a ‘HORRIBLE GUY’ after he punched the VAR monitor when Uruguay crashed out of the World Cup… with Luis Suarez and Co left SEETHING after being denied a late penalty which could have rescued qualification
ITV pundit Ian Wright criticised Edinson Cavani after the former Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United forward shoved over a VAR monitor in frustration at not being awarded a late penalty.
Uruguay had appeared to be sailing into the last-16 with two first half goals against Ghana, piling misery on the African side after Andre Ayew’s missed penalty early on, but were left shell-shocked when news emerged that South Korea were beating Portugal.
A late chance appeared to fashion itself for Uruguay when Cavani himself was brought down by Alidu Seidu inside the area. It looked for all the world as though a 2010 situation – when Ghana missed a penalty at the end of extra-time to advance to the semi-finals of that World Cup – would arise in reverse, but referee Daniel Siebert waved away their protests.
Edinson Cavani vented his fury on the pitch-side VAR monitor as Uruguay players lost their collective cool at the referee
In a similar manner to all Romelu Lukaku’s burst of frustration after his string of misses against Croatia, Cavani took his anger out on the equipment
Footage emerged of Cavani walking to the changing rooms – but not before his final public act of frustration was carried out, as he pushed over the VAR monitor.
Speaking on ITV after an afternoon packed full of drama, Wright labelled Cavani a ‘horrible guy’.
‘Wow, what a horrible guy!’ Wright said.
Onlookers watched on in awkwardness as the monitor fell to the ground and Cavani walked away
The forward was brought down late on by Alidu Seidu with Uruguay thinking for all the world it was a penalty
Joe Cole echoed his colleague’s thoughts, saying: ‘It’s terrible behaviour. You feel your frustration when you lose games of football, but you have to keep your composure because you have a responsibility.
‘The world is watching, kids are watching,’ he added. ‘You can accept a little blow up, but four or five players are around the referee, it is not a good luck.’
The conclusion to Group H produced some of the most dramatic few hours in the history of the World Cup, with Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay all at one time advancing alongside Portugal.
Ian Wright called Cavani a ‘horrible guy’ upon seeing the footage of him pushing over the monitor
Joe Cole claimed players ‘have a responsibility’ to be model professionals with kids watching
The Valencia forward was left in a heap, incredulous that a penalty had not been awarded
Perhaps the least fancied side going into the final round of group games, South Korea, were the ones to triumph – owing in part to Fernando Santos playing a second-string Portugal side.
The emotion of the afternoon was palpable for all to see, as Uruguay slowly lost their heads as the reality of the situation dawned on them.
With Luis Suarez in tears on the bench – Uruguay pressed for a third goal that would ensure they advanced ahead of South Korea on goal difference but it was not to be, with Cavani denied a strong shout for a penalty in added time.
Uruguay players surrounded the referee at the final whistle with various members of the squad receiving yellow cards
Luis Suarez was left in floods of tears at full-time after Uruguay’s fate at the World Cup was sealed
Following Siebert blowing the final whistle, all hell broke loose with almost the entirety of the Uruguay side confronting the referee. Jose Gimenez tugged at his shirt while reserve goalkeeper Sebastian Sosa jabbed his finger in his face.
The rather ridiculous situation emerged whereby the cameras caught Siebert brandishing countless yellows as the commotion moved in unison down the tunnel.
In what is likely to be his final World Cup act, Cavani pushed over the monitor as chaos reigned around him.
