FIFA says it “strongly rebukes” comments made by its ambassador Diego Maradona criticizing American referee Mark Geiger’s handling of England’s win against Colombia in the world Cup last 16 yesterday.

Just after Gareth Southgate’s side booked their place in the quarter-finals via the penalty shootout route, Maradona said Colombia had been the victims of a “monumental theft”.

Maradona also said Geiger should have penalized Kane in the build-up to England’s second-half penalty, and Criticised Pierluigi Collina, head of FIFA’s referee committee, for allowing Geiger to officiate the match.

Maradona, who mostly attended world cup games in Russia as a VIP guest of FIFA, was photographed before the game wearing a Colombia shirt.

FIFA says Maradona’s “insinuations” were “entirely inappropriate and completely unfounded”.