World Cup final referee Szymon Marciniak has admitted that his performance in the December 18 showpiece between Argentina and France wasn't perfect, and identified one error that he knows he made during the classic contest.
Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates got their hands on the country's third World Cup, and the iconic No.10's first, at the end of an enthralling contest at Doha's Lusail Stadium, bringing the curtain down on the most controversial World Cup ever with a thrilling final.
Argentina eventually picked up the trophy after a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw which featured a brace from Messi, a hat-trick in a losing cause from Kylian Mbappe and chances and incidents which thrilled football fans across the globe.
Polish referee Marciniak, a former player in both Poland and Germany, received widespread acclaim in the immediate aftermath of his performance, however in the days that followed he was on the receiving end of harsh criticism from French sports newspaper L'Equipe.
That criticism then spread throughout France, and a petition was set up on a French website demanding that the final be replayed because of what was perceived as errors from Marciniak in the build-up to both of Argentina's first two goals.
In addition, it was then pointed out that Messi's second goal in extra-time should not have been allowed because several Argentina substitutes had ran onto the field of play to celebrate before the ball went over the line.
Speaking in Poland last week, Marciniak dismissed many of France's issues, but did admit that he made a mistake which cost the French at one point.
"Of course, there were mistakes in this final," the 41-year-old told Sport.PL.
"I interrupted the French counter-attack after a bad tackle by (Argentina's) Marcos Acuna.
"I was afraid that the fouled player wanted to unwind, and I read it wrong because nothing happened, and you could give an advantage and then come back with a card.
"It’s hard. In a game like this, I take such a mistake in the dark. The important thing is that there were no big mistakes."
The Acuna incident isn't one that the French have taken badly, and Marciniak has been happy to respond to their complaints, at one stage even producing a photo to show that they too were guilty of their substitutes entering the field of play during an attack.
“The French didn't mention this photo, where you can see how there are seven Frenchmen on the pitch when Mbappe scores a goal," he said.
"First of all, to penalise this situation it should affect the game. What was the impact of the boys who got up and jumped onto the field?”
On his reception after the match, Marciniak said: “Friends, great referees from France, wrote to me. The reception was great.
"Many professionals and footballers sent us congratulations and Kylian Mbappe said that we were great referees. What the players say matters.
"The French thanked us after the match, they were satisfied with the refereeing.”
