World Cup 2018: German referee Felix Brych to officiate no more tournament games after controversy in match between Serbia and Switzerland
Serbian FA made an official complaint to Fifa after they were denied a penalty with the game poised at 1-1
GERMAN referee Felix Brych will not officiate any more matches at this World Cup after his role in Switzerland’s controversial win against Serbia.
The ref has been sent home, Fifa announced on Wednesday, after a formal complaint from the Serbian FA.
A win in the game would have seen Serbia through – but with the game poised at 1-1, Brych denied Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic a clear penalty.
The decision was then controversially not overturned by VAR.
Serbia would go on to lose 2-1, while another defeat in the final group game against Brazil would see them knocked out at the group stage.
In the aftermath of the Switzerland game, the Serbian FA released claimed that Brych was biased against their team.
It read: “We have submitted seven video-recordings clearly showing Brych’s tendency to make decisions against our national team.
“The footage reveals Brych’s double standards in brandishing yellow cards, as he was quick to book our key players while he didn’t do the same in similar situations at the other end.”
Vice-president of the Serbian FA, and former Aston Villa striker, Savo Milosevic said: “We have filed an official complaint, that is all we can do… this is a World Cup and those kinds of decisions are deciding games.
“I understand the referee didn’t see it but that is why we have VAR. What are those guys doing up there?
Do we need another four men up there, do we need 100 people to control VAR for something we can all see perfectly well?
“We are Serbia and nobody cares, that is all I can think of.”
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Now, Brych has been sent home from the tournament – the game was the only one he officiated in Russia.
Brych, 42, has been on Fifa’s elite list since 2008.
He has officiated at two World Cups and took charge of the 2014 Europa League final and the 2017 Champions League final.
Outside of football, Brych is a lawyer.