DALLAS. It has been 52 years.
But last night Swedish time we got a new Watergate in the USA.
– The referee told me that I will get a yellow card if someone in the team does it again, says Victor Nilsson Lindelöf.
Anthony Elanga wasn’t just frustrated and annoyed after Sweden-Japan (when he didn’t think a point was enough).
The striker also lashed out at the refereeing team at the end of the game, which ended 1-1, when he was not allowed to drink on the touchline during a stoppage in play.
The water rage spread in the team, to Graham Potter too apparently.
– It’s probably best that I don’t say anything about it, says the national team captain when he gets a question about it at the press conference.
“I don’t understand why”
Elliot Stroud:
– As soon as someone had a cramp or was injured, they (the referees) waved us off the bench. I don’t know if they thought we were going to talk tactics. But that wasn’t the reason why you ran there, it was to drink.
Viktor Gyökeres:
– It felt like they (the judges) were on the move in every way. There were starts and we weren’t allowed to go and drink water, which I don’t understand why when you know you have little time.
Victor Nilsson Lindelöf:
– I don’t really understand it. If there is an interruption, you must be allowed to go out and drink water. I don’t know if there are any new rules.
The referee threatened Lindelöf with a warning
Yes, it is. And Alexander Isak has a handle on the situation.
– It is actually one of the rules that they have told us at these referee meetings. When a player is injured, it is not an opportunity for tactical meetings or water breaks. You can’t all gather with the trainers. They actually told us that.
Captain Lindelöf hears about the novelty of the mixed zone.
– Then I understand that he told me. He came and told me that I will get a yellow card if anyone in the team does it again.
You would get it?!
– Yes, apparently both the captains would get it. But then I learned it. I didn’t know that, says Lindelöf.
The national team
