Zico lashes out at off-colour referee, says Goa is always wronged

FC Goa head coach Zico on Sunday lambasted referee Fernando Guerrero Ramirez for his decisions in his team's Indian Super League (ISL) match against Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) here.

"Any kind of foul and he would show his card. All crucial decisions are always against us. Foreign referees always do these things. Like we have good players in the ISL, we should have good referees too," Zico told reporters post the match which ended 1-1 at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium.

The referee brandished as many as eight yellow cards and two red cards, at which even ATK coach Molina was dubious.

"The referee didn't have a great match. We did not suffer much so we cannot complain. He had a bad day, it happens."

Zico, seemingly fuming at the media conference, went to the extent of saying that Indian referees will do a better job than their foreign counterparts.

"It's better to let Indians do refereeing. Foreign referees do these things in crucial games. I am here to help football development in India and not to only earn money. If they want me here no problem, if they don't want me I will pack my bags and go home," the Brazilian legend fumed.

Zico was however happy with the way his team played on the day.

"Our players worked hard and I am happy with the way they played. I have no complains. If decisions were not so poor it could have been different."

FC Goa were shown five yellow cards in total and three in the opening five minutes. ATK, who were winning by a Sameehg Doutie goal in the sixth minute, conceded a penalty late in the game when Borja was deemed to have handled the ball inside the box from a Jofre corner. Molina felt the decision was harsh.

"Borja told me that he was something unlucky. He didn't want to touch the ball. I think it's not a penalty," he said.

--IANS

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