Harry Maguire, Thomas Tuchel and Ian Wright react to VAR, a “leg breaker” tackle, and boos for Ben White as England drew 1-1 with Uruguay.
The England manager was incensed on the touchline, and again at full time, criticising referee Sven Jablonski, while also calling for boos towards Ben White to stop.
Harry Maguire also took issue with contentious decisions in the second half while ITV pundits Ian Wright and Emma Hayes discussed the questionable calls, including Ronald Araujo’s tackle on Phil Foden, which wasn’t deemed a sending off.
Repost if this should have been a Red Card for challenge on Foden 😳! Tuchel is absolutely fuming! England needs to save their main players from injuries!! #ENGURU
pic.twitter.com/zIm56HS214— The Final Whistle (@Rufus_45) March 27, 2026
Thomas Tuchel wasn’t very happy at the end! You can see an Uruguayan fan mocking the camera sums up England vs Uruguay game! #ENGURU pic.twitter.com/IeB6RIlex5
— The Final Whistle (@Rufus_45) March 27, 2026
England boss Thomas Tuchel, speaking to ITV:Â “It was not a penalty.
“To sum it up I think our goal was also a block, tough block from Wharton, but they checked it and gave it.
“Absolutely OK with the performance. We tried and tried and were the better team overall.
“We had some big chances from set-pieces. We were forced into changes. We had a lot of new players and changed a lot of new players and for all of that I am grateful for the test.
“I have to review it, I liked how we played. We knew it was a difficult opponent. Marcelo Bielsa told me months ago he would arrive with his best team. Everyone did good. I liked a lot of stuff today.”
On Ben White:Â “It was too good to be true when he scored the winner which in the end was not a winner. In the end he was perhaps too greedy in his defensive actions but it was not a penalty.”
On whether he hopes White’s goal might help change some views:Â “I hope so. This happened before to some players here which is disappointing because I don’t think it helps anyone. There was a mixed reaction.”
Welcome back Ben White. All the troglodytes booing an England player because they’re jealous. Cretins won’t be at the World Cup so can boo all they want from their armchairs #worldcup #benwhite pic.twitter.com/rRsxuCYpd1
— Sam Shethran (@ShethranS) March 27, 2026
England defender Harry Maguire speaking to ITV:Â “I thought that we controlled the whole game really, they didn’t create a chance. We could have been better we know that. When we made changes we lost a bit of the rhythm with the game plan but that is what happens in these games when you make changes on 60-70 minutes. But we had control of the game, they didn’t really get in our box, and then it’s a ridiculous penalty.”
On the penalty award at the end:Â “It’s soft. He’s kicked the ball over the bar. Ben just goes to try to block the shot. It’s not a bad tackle, it’s not malicious. It’s part and parcel of defending in the box, there is going to be contact.”
Maguire speaking to ITV about Araujo’s high challenge on Foden: “You don’t see tackles like that and not get red cards. A couple of months from the World Cup and we’ve got referees allowing tackles like that… It’s disappointing. We have to move on and manage the game better and come away with the victory. It was a good work out there, many positives and things to work on as well.”
On Ben White’s performance:Â “A bit crazy, scoring the first goal. I thought he was brilliant when he came on. I can’t say anything about the defending for that one [the penalty] – if that was me in that position I’d be attempting to block the shot as well. That’s what we’ve got to do. That’s a real soft penalty.
“He’s been good all week, a big smile on his face and he’s brought great energy to the camp. He got his rewards tonight with the goal and I thought he was brilliant when he came on.”
Ian Wright on the Araujo high challenge on Foden: “This is so close to being really bad for Phil. I’m just so happy that he just gets ready to jump out of it. Araujo is so out of control. If Phil’s leg had just stuck in the ground then that would have been very bad.”
Emma Hayes: “What is the point in having VAR? If we are using it for penalties situations or corner situations and not for blatant red card moments, then I don’t understand. Araujo could have broken Foden’s leg.”
Here’s what fans had to say while Maguire, Tuchel and Wright react to VAR, that “leg breaker” tackle, and boos for Ben White…
@Nathana980: Friendly or not this referee needs to be investigated Dangerous foul play on Foden no red Referee books Ugarte for a 2nd yellow and the forth official says it’s been rescinded what crap is that @FIFAcom need to train the officials as that was dreadful
@jonnysharpe: @FIFAcom I hope this ref isn’t going to the WC! Poor tonight. Uruguay were even worse and got away with it. FOUR times!
@dohamovers: Dirty Uruguay! Two players should have been sent off. Mockery. Ref useless – he had a duty of care to the players and he failed.
@RhysPalmer2: Awful tackle, what’s the point in VAR if you aren’t giving a red for that?
@DJ6995: 100% could have ruined his World Cup. Absolute melt is araujo.
@NufcLady0106: The refereeing in that football match was diabolical. The Uruguayan players were just out to injure our players and they got away with it, several times #ENGURU @England
@ICHARDMAN: @FIFAcom Eng v Urg, if that’s the standard of refereeing going into the World cup the games gone & a total embarrassment of FIFA. #shambles
@SamTapTap: Never seen so much amateur refereeing in a friendly before 😠Ugarte getting two yellow cards but no red and Araujo getting away with murder… crazy stuff 🤣
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