No fewer than 120,000 English fans have signed a change.org petition calling for England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy to be replayed.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that the Three Lions lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Wembley on Sunday evening, where Luke Shaw opened scoring inside two minutes.
The Italians forced their way back into the match and deservedly levelled through Leonardo Bonucci in the second period.
Read Also: Onuachu’s Departure From Genk Still Uncertain – Coach
Roberto Mancini’s side then prevailed 3-2 in a penalty shootout as Marcus Rashford shot wide and both Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka had their efforts saved by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
A change.org petition to replay the match was started on the grounds that it apparently “was not fair at all”, with an image of Giorgio Chiellini’s now infamous foul on Saka – which the Italian defender was booked for – used to highlight this apparent unfairness.
It is added that there were ‘pushes, pulls and kicks’ from the victorious Italians, who – it is said – should have had ‘a red card for their gameplay’ with the match replayed with a ‘non-biased’ referee, presumably to give England a better chance of winning.
Over 100,000 people had signed the petition by Tuesday lunchtime, perhaps not all entirely seriously.
Earlier in the tournament some 270,000 people signed a petition on French website Les Lignes Bougent (LLB) calling for the France vs Switzerland last-16 match to be replayed.
Those signing were complaining that Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer was off his line when he saved the decisive penalty from Kylian Mbappe in the shootout, although that was later proved to be incorrect.
The petition was later taken down by the person who started it, with an LLB statement issued calling for the French to be ‘good players’ and accept Switzerland’s victory.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK