Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.
The assistant referees during Chile’s World Cup qualifier against Argentina on Thursday night were forced to improvise after they had left their flags at the hotel.
Both Fabricio Vilarinho and Rodrigo Figueiredo realised they had forgotten to bring their flags upon arrival at the stadium and had to find a way of overcoming the mistake to help officiate the game.
Images showed the pair using hi vis jackets attached to a broom handle, leaving supporters stunned by what they saw.
https://twitter.com/DangeloFut/status/1486880085827362818
As per the Daily Mail, one viewer said: “Football in South America. The linesman’s flag is a reflective jacket. This is happening right now in Chile against Argentina.”
One of the linesmen in Chile's World Cup qualifier against Argentina appears to be using a high vis jacket wrapped around a pole instead of an actual flag.
Got to love South American qualifiers… pic.twitter.com/g512slUfi9
— Matias Grez (@matias_grez) January 28, 2022
Meanwhile another used tweeted: “One of the linesmen in Chile’s World Cup qualifier against Argentina appears to be using a high vis jacket wrapped around a pole instead of an actual flag. Got to love South American qualifiers…”
Argentina went on to win the game 2-1 after goals from Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez gave them an important win.
The visitors’ preparations were affected after players and journalists complained of the conditions and treatment they received in the hotel and on their flight, with Rodrigo De Paul saying: “They didn’t even let us go to the bathroom when we got off the plane.
“They cut off our air conditioners, we had no water and they made sirens sound throughout the stay.
“I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, but, as an Argentine, every team that comes to my country, we have to make them feel as comfortable as possible and we have to win on the playing field where it belongs.”
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