Néstor Lorenzo and his reaction at a press conference after the 3-0 victory against Bolivia. The Argentine coach valued the first half, believes that the Colombian National Team arrives in good shape and motivated for the Copa América and referred to the violent game that Bolivia played for several moments.
Lorenzo’s complaint was against the referees, a trio led by Mexican Daniel Quintero. He said that the judges did not have an intercom and that the linesman of his sector never contacted the center to warn of the Bolivians’ faults. Then came a tough tackle against Luis Díaz that sparked a fight in the second half.
Referees, without intercom. “I was annoyed, I was very sorry that a sporting spectacle was tarnished like this. The referees had a lot to do with it. From the first half we were telling them that there were plays where they were arriving late and they were going to hit us. What if they didn’t get a yellow and tell the center… The answer made me even more angry because they told me, ‘we don’t have an intercom’, and I can’t believe that, at this point in life, in competition, a referee shortlist who comes to direct Colombia, do not bring an intercom…”
His anger with the line’s response. “I don’t know whose fault it is, but it is unheard of that the lineman cannot say something to the referee. It is not a professional response (…) Then what had to happen happened, slightly more severe kicks that could lead to an injury and it made me very angry.”
The kick to Luis Díaz. “People come to see Luis Díaz, I have to play with Luis Díaz. If I have to take him out because the referee doesn’t know how to protect him… I’m not saying that they hit too much, but there were plays where they had to be called to their attention and they happened within half a centimeter of a strong hit. We told the lineman, ‘let him get a yellow card to stop this’. Maybe I am responsible for risking it (Luis Díaz), he apologizes, but I don’t feel that way. “I would have liked him to play the whole game.”
#Colombia
