Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Roy Keane was involved in an on air argument with fellow pundit Graeme Souness during the half-time analysis of Argentina’s defeat against Saudi Arabia.
At the time, Argentina were winning 1-0 thanks to a first half penalty from Lionel Messi. The spot kick was awarded by the Video Assistant Referee after a review, with it being adjudged that there was a foul on Leandro Paredes as a free-kick was floated into the box.
The decision came less than 24 hours after England were denied a penalty for a similar challenge on Harry Maguire against Iran. The Three Lions were later penalised for pulling shirts in the box, with Iran given the chance to score their second goal of the game.
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Despite the decision going against them, Saudi Arabia came back in the second half to pull off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
As well as the shock win for the underdogs, it was a half-time argument between Keane and Souness that had people talking. Analysing the first half on ITV Sport, Keane made his feelings clear on the decision stating: “We’re going to see a record number of penalties at this World Cup, record number. That’s not a penalty.”
But Souness disagreed with his fellow pundit leading to a back and forth between the two. “The ball has come in, he’s not looking at the ball,” Souness said.
“The directive from the referee is that’s a penalty, we have to accept that’s a penalty. We’ve seen a different Argentina today, it’s not the Argentina I expected to see, they don’t seem too intent on dominating the ball. I just feel Argentina have another gear to go into.”
The argument which continued between the two can be seen in the transcript below:
Keane : Go ahead, go ahead
Souness : You learn a lot more if you listen than talk all the time
RK : Go ahead
GS: Let someone else speak
RK : That’s not a penalty.
GS : I’ve heard you say it 10 times. Do you want to say it again?
RK : That’s my opinion, that’s why I’m here. I’m here to give my opinion, that’s not a penalty. I’m here to give my opinion that’s not a penalty
GS : Their interpretation, the new laws…
RK : That’s not a penalty
GS : Their interpretation…
RK : Well what are we here for? I’m here to give my opinion
GS : This is not about our opinions, it’s about the laws of the game
RK : Well I’m here to give my opinion. That’s not a penalty
GS : This is not about opinion, that’s a fact, the guy wasn’t looking at the ball
RK : I heard exactly what she said. It’s going to encourage diving
GS : Roy, you’re not listening to what Laura is saying. The directive from referees…
RK : No, no, no. All this will do is encourage diving. He’s dragging him down, he’s dragging him down!
GS : He’s not watching the ball, Laura. He doesn’t know where the ball is, he’s only interested in the Argentinian player, he doesn’t know when it’s been kicked, he’s not watching and that is a penalty.
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