The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 was never short on drama — and perhaps it will be remembered just as much for its refereeing controversies as for the football on the pitch. The quarter-finals, in particular, became a flashpoint for questions about officiating standards, VAR usage, referee appointments and the very credibility of continental football governance. From Nigeria vs Algeria to Cameroon vs Morocco, and controversies in Mali vs Senegal, the referees were thrust into the spotlight — often for all the wrong reasons. The debates that followed didn’t just revolve around isolated decisions; they struck at the heart of how fairness, transparency and even respect are perceived in African football. Quarter-Final Showdowns and the Sparks of Dispute Nigeria vs Algeria (2–0): A Penalty That Never Came Match result: Nigeria defeated Algeria 2–0 to reach the AFCON semi-finals. Yet, the focus after this match wasn’t only on the football. It was on the refereeing narrative that domina...
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez defended an angry Cristiano Ronaldo after he kicked a water bottle after being substituted in the shocking 2-0 loss to Georgia.
Ronaldo was seen kicking a water bottle before taking his position on the bench, expressing his emotions following a tough outing.
Ronaldo had been penalized earlier in the game for his outbursts at the referee after colliding with centre-back Luka Lochoshvili, who was obviously pulling the Portugal striker's shirt but managed to avoid a penalty.
Martinez maintained after the game that Ronaldo should have been handed a "clear" penalty, questioning the VAR's consistency before awarding a spot kick to Mikautadze for Georgia's second.
"At times, we were unlucky," Martinez told reporters. "The VAR was inconsistent; if there was a penalty on Antonio Silva, Ronaldo could see it more clearly.
"Georgia had the game of their lives and we didn't match the intensity."
Ronaldo's tumultuous evening didn't finish there; as he exited the pitch, he nearly escaped a weird altercation with a fan.
As Ronaldo proceeded down the tunnel, a fan jumped over the fence and was pushed aside by security before making touch with the 39-year-old, who had previously been targeted by pitch invasions during Portugal's triumph over Turkey in the tournament.
Portugal has been drawn with Slovenia in the competition's last 16, with their match on Monday night being the last to be decided before the quarter-final stage begins.
Ronaldo's tumultuous evening didn't finish there; as he exited the pitch, he nearly escaped a weird altercation with a fan.
As Ronaldo proceeded down the tunnel, a fan jumped over the fence and was pushed aside by security before making touch with the 39-year-old, who had previously been targeted by pitch invasions during Portugal's triumph over Turkey in the tournament.
Portugal has been drawn with Slovenia in the competition's last 16, with their match on Monday night being the last to be decided before the quarter-final stage begins.
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