FIFA launch investigation over 'disgusting' moment at Women's World Cup
FIFA have announced disciplinary proceedings against Cameroon for misconduct and offensive behaviour in their Women's World Cup match against England.
England won Sunday's last 16 tie 3-0 but the game at Valenciennes was marked by Cameroon players' furious response to several refereeing decisions.
At one stage they apparently threatened to walk off the pitch.
A spokesperson for football's ruling body confirmed "proceedings have now been opened by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee against the Cameroonian Football Association."
He added the investigation focused on "alleged breaches related to article 52 (team misconduct) and article 57 (offensive behaviour and fair play) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code".
Phil Neville furious
England coach Phil Neville said after the encounter he was left "utterly ashamed" by the behaviour of the Cameroon players.
"I sat through the 90 minutes of football there and felt ashamed - proud of my own players' behaviour under circumstances that I've never seen on a football field before, and completely and utterly ashamed of the behaviour of the opposition," railed Neville.
"It takes you back to the times when you were a kid, and you lost and you went home crying with your ball.
“There are young girls that are playing all over the world that are seeing that behaviour - for me, it's not right.”
"There are young girls that are playing all over the world that are seeing that behaviour - for me, it's not right."
Phil Neville does not hold back when asked about Cameroon's extraordinary actions in Valenciennes this morning. 😳#OptusSport #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/BOGvNYlIDd— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) June 23, 2019
Cameroon coach Alain Djeumfa said his team had been the victims of an "injustice".
Their anger reached boiling point when Ellen White's goal to make it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time was initially disallowed for offside before being awarded after Chinese referee Qin Liang consulted with the Video Assistant Referee.
Their players surrounded the referee, pointing to the big screen replays of the goal and seemingly threatening to walk off.
46' INCREDIBLE!
Cameroon refuse to play immediately after the goal is given. The players have congregated in protest at the half way line...#ENGCMR #FIFAWWC #OptusSport pic.twitter.com/PAawPYZ99O— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) June 23, 2019
Further confusion came just three minutes after the restart when Cameroon thought they had pulled a goal back to make it 2-1, but Ajara Nchout's effort was eventually disallowed for offside after the referee had again consulted with the VAR.
Bizarre scenes.
Cameroon are refusing to play after their goal has been called offside by VAR!#ENGCMR #FIFAWWC #OptusSport pic.twitter.com/mzkmHcVI9V— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) June 23, 2019
The extraordinary scenes were widely condemned, as was footage of one of the players allegedly spitting on an England opponent.
Absolutely disgraceful from Cameroon here. #FIFAWWC
— Ricky (@RickyM1992) June 23, 2019
Try telling that to Cameroon after their disgraceful behavior on Sunday! #FIFAWWC
— Matthew Chapman (@Matt528chap) June 26, 2019
Disgraceful behaviour from #Cameroon #WomensWorldCup
— Kerry Sanderson (@kerrylou8707) June 23, 2019
Although the behavior of the Cameroon players at the end of the first half was uncalled for and disgraceful. The spitting incident & the push on the ref were both unintentional. Nonetheless the very vile & abusive comments towards the players is unwarranted. #ENGCMR #FIFAWWC
— Geldo Watat (@watizy) June 23, 2019
ref was awful cameroon disgusting team
— gavin aldridge (@gav1961gav) June 23, 2019
#ENGvCAM #FIFAWWC2019 Embarrassing and disgusting behaviour by Cameroon women.
— Leon McCubbin (@MccubbinLeon) June 23, 2019
Cameroon’s women were a shameful bunch of spitting, elbowing, snarling, sobbing, fouling, ref-striking bad sports. Great to see the women’s game show we ghastly men how it’s done! #WWC2019 #engvcam pic.twitter.com/9g1jZBIwHS
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 23, 2019
with AFP