Klinsmann and Richards disagree over Belgium penalty decision

Micah Richards says decision to hand Belgium a penalty for foul by Italy’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo on Jeremy Doku was ‘soft’ though co-pundit Jurgen Klinsmann disagrees’ insisting that the Belgian youngster was ‘pushed’

  • Italy took a 2-0 lead through goals by Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne 
  • Belgium then got a penalty for a foul on Jeremy Doku by Giovanni Di Lorenzo   
  • Micah Richards and Jurgen Klinsmann disagreed with the decision for a penalty 

Micah Richards and Jurgen Klinsmann disagreed with the decision to hand Belgium a late first-half penalty against Italy.

The Italians made an explosive start to the game and took a 2-0 lead through Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne.

Belgium got a lifeline however when the referee pointed to the spot after Giovanni Di Lorenzo was judged to have pushed Jeremy Doku to the ground.

Belgium were awarded a first-half penalty for a foul by Giovanni Di Lorenzo on Jeremy Doku

Micah Richards criticised the decision by the referee saying that it was a ‘soft’ penalty

Romelu Lukaku scored from the spot to narrow the scoreline and give Roberto Martinez’s side something to cheer for going into the second-half.

During his half-time analysis, BBC pundit Micah Richards said that he disagreed with the decision to award the penalty.

The former Manchester City man said: ‘It’s great play from Doku but I think that’s soft. 

Jurgen Klinsmann though said he could understand why the referee made the decision

‘As a defender, he does touch him but is it enough for a penalty. If you give a pen for that, I mean he catches him very minimally outside of the box.’

Former Germany manager Klinsmann said that the decision could have been given because of the push.

He said: ‘I think you can give the penalty, I think it is a push. He goes down easily but he gives him a push and that takes Belgium back into the game.’

Alan Shearer who also makes up part of the punditry team also gave his opinion into the matter.

He said: ‘Once he gives it he’s not going to overturn it, it’s not clear and obvious.’

Romelu Lukaku scored from the penalty spot to narrow the deficit to Italy to 2-1




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