Hardworking Super Eagles midfield General, Eddy Ogenyi Onazi, says he was shocked that despite the protestations of Argentine legend, Diego Armando Maradona, that French midfielder, Blaise Matuidi, has not been sanctioned for the hard tackle on him that tore his left leg tendon, by world soccer governing body, FIFA.
Speaking in Brasilia after undergoing surgery on the injured left leg, Onazi said what FIFA has done is not to respect the rules that they themselves have set.
He said: “The French side will announce to the world before a game that we are very physical so that they can come and commit murder and get away with it, yet FIFA will fold their arms and do nothing. I am totally in tune with Maradona, who believes that the tackle on me was worst that what Luis Suarez did to Italian Chellini.
“I will please beg that FIFA should go back and watch the tape of the game and apply necessary sanctions for the good of the game, otherwise it’s Nigeria today, it could be another big country tomorrow. Justice must be done.”
Also, an angry Osaze Odemwingie has queried the officiating of American referee, Mark Geiger, describing it as not only appalling but against what the General Coordinator for the game between Nigeria and France, Walter Sieber, of Canada came to preach to the Super Eagles in Campinas, the Nigerian team base camp.
Odemwingie said: “I recall that when the Canadian came to us, he showed us a film of a defender holding down a striker in the vital area in the course of a game and he was very clear that it should be a penalty. I was then shocked that when I was held by the waist by a French defender, so much so that I could not move with the referee watching at close range, the man waived play on instead of a penalty and a possible expulsion for the player.
“FIFA should not make the world believe that they use double standards at the World Cup. I am shocked that even the media is keeping quiet over the blatant officiating.”
Odemwingie also lambasted the cancellation of Nigeria’s opening goal and the brutish hacking of team mate, Ogenyi Onazi.
“It was obvious that some forces wanted France to defeat us at all cost but one day Africa will get at par with the rest of the World in football,” he lamented.
