The referee in charge of England vs. Croatia kept his cards in his pocket for the most part.
Cuneyt Cakir only reached for his yellow card on three occasions over the 120 minutes in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final but two of those bookings have prompted waves of confusion and anger from England supporters.
On either side of a Kyle Walker booking, it appeared at first glance that the referee flashed a yellow card in the direction of Croatia winger, Ante Rebic.
Fifa regulations mean we can’t show you the footage but, in the 48th minute, Rebic caught Walker with a flailing arm as the pair competed in the air for a high ball. The official immediately reached for his pocket after the incident and entered a name into his notebook.
Then, in the 96th minute, Cakir showed a yellow to Rebic for a sliding tackle on Danny Rose.
Even the ITV commentators were initially confused as they remarked in extra time: “It’s a yellow card for Rebic. I thought he’d got one at the start of the second half but now it’s confirmed he didn’t.”
Supporters have been fuming as they believe that Croatia should have been reduced to 10 men before their dramatic late winner.
Rebic got two yellow cards and didn't get sent off? pic.twitter.com/EYVuESZPnB
— Bradley (@BradleyCox_) July 12, 2018
So apparently in the Croatia game last night, Rebic got yellow carded twice but the first one got changed? Lmao, so rebic should of been sent off.
— 🇬🇧 KYLΞ 🏴 (@KKy7e) July 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/Rentless_/status/1017524264944140288
The World Cup is pure shambles Rebic got two yellow cards last night why wasn’t he sent of ?
— Kano Dowman (@kanodowman16) July 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/kjwharding/status/1017649851792809984
https://twitter.com/GamingzProject/status/1017635762781802497
Am I the only one who thought rebic got two yellow cards ?
— matt stonebridge (@mattgoals73) July 13, 2018
@SkySportsNews FIFA need to look into the Croatia and England game last night rebic had two yellow cards in the game and didn’t get a red and you are supposed to get one if you’ve had two yellows Croatia should be disqualified and England should be in the World Cup final
— Rhys Grant (@grant_rhys) July 13, 2018
How they going to let Croatia go through to the final knowing full well that they let Rebic carry on playing after two yellow cards😶 #ENGCRO
— Georgia Baker (@GeeBaker21) July 12, 2018
The official explanation for the mix-up is that Rebic was not the player who was booked following the foul on Walker in the 48th minute.
Instead, it’s claimed that the referee actually gave a yellow card to Mario Mandzukic for his furious reaction to the free-kick being given to England.
While the ITV footage made it look like the first yellow was flashed at Rebic, the below photograph appears to confirm that Cakir was looking past Rebic and instead pointing at Mandzukic.
So that’s that cleared up!
