Nestory Irankunda Slams Referee After Australia's Loss to USA

By Anna Harrington

Nestory Irankunda says the referee in Australia's 2-0 loss to the United States "had a stinker" as his coach and teammates also took issue with the officiating.

The Socceroos made it clear the refereeing was not the difference in Saturday's defeat to the co-hosts in Seattle, but clearly felt the Americans had the rub of the green with official Felix Zwayer.

The US's second goal was originally ruled offside, then cleared on VAR.

Irankunda was knocked down on multiple occasions without a foul being paid as was Cristian Volpato, while Connor Metcalfe had a second-half penalty shout waved away.

"The ref was having a stinker today," Irankunda said.

"But it is what it is. He was giving every call to the USA.

"I get it, but, at the same time, there's two teams on the field, so you have to give the calls both ways. And he didn't do that today."

For the Americans' second goal, Sergino Dest's shot took a deflection and Freeman rose highest to head home.

It was initially called offside but after a VAR review, it was ruled Freeman was onside when Dest shot.

Teammate Folarin Balogun was not considered to have interfered with goalkeeper Patrick Beach from an offside position.

"I'm not sure on that one. We felt that, but, unfortunately that didn't go our way," Popovic said.

"Today was, I wouldn't say the best day for the referee. Certainly we felt we were Australia today with the referees."

Popovic later indicated he was unhappy with a lack of consistency.

"I thought the referee gave too many fouls away, in all honesty," the Socceroos boss said.

"Sometimes you didn't have to do much to win a foul. And on the other occasions you had to do a fair bit to get one. But that's for the referees to assess their referee."

Veteran Milos Degenek, an unused substitute, was a frustrated onlooker.

"I was very impressed by the way how the boys held their calm and held their nerve," Degenek said.

"I mean, I would have lost my head 10 times.

"I was losing my head on the bench, but obviously, you can't influence what the decisions are and that's the way the world is now.

"Unfortunately, they don't let you have at least a dialogue, which would be helpful in an explanation, but it is what it is."