“You’re wrong about that”: Joe Hart disagrees with referee Thomas Tuchel’s angry speech after England win

Thomas Tuchel was left furious with his manager despite England’s 3-2 win over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.

The Three Lions overcame Jarell Quansah’s second-half red card and Mexico’s controversial penalty to book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

However, former England goalkeeper, Joe Hart, believes that Tuchel was wrong to attack the officials after the match.

What does Thomas Tuchel say about the referee after England’s win over Mexico?

The German player has lashed out at referee Alireza Faghani and the match officials following England’s dramatic victory.

The biggest source of frustration for the England manager was Mexico’s penalty in the second half, which came ten minutes after Harry Kane scored at the other end.

Kane was penalized for grabbing Brian Gutierrez in the back of the leg while challenging the ball. Faghani initially allowed the game to continue, until he reversed his decision after being advised by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review the incident on the side of the field.

“It’s not good enough,” Tuchel told reporters after the game. “The referees are not good at all, the fourth officials are not good. That’s what matters.

“Three people in VAR from South America in a game like this, if this is true, VAR is overturned… is this a clear and obvious penalty error? Certainly not.

“They have dismissed the situation where he is no longer satisfied with playing bad football. There are not enough referees, there are not enough fourth officials.”

Is Thomas Tuchel right to be angry with Alireza Faghani?

© Imago / Xinhua

Tuchel is right to question the decision-making process behind Mexico’s penalty, especially since VAR must meet before recommending a review on the field.

Kane made contact with Gutierrez, but the incident was soft, and Faghani had a clear view of the challenge before deciding not to award the penalty. Whether that actual call was a ‘clear and obvious’ error is debatable.

However, Tuchel’s criticism of the official’s performance feels over the top, on a night when England were at their most impressive.

And former England goalkeeper Hart did not immediately agree with the Three Lions boss, speaking live on the BBC: “I think he made a mistake. I don’t know why he worked so hard after such a good performance.

“I get, against all odds, the red card and the penalties, but I don’t think they were limited decisions. I thought they were decent decisions in the end.”

Hart has a point. Quansah’s red card was deserved, while there was enough contact from Kane to make Mexico’s penalty somewhat safe, even if the VAR intervention itself remains questionable.

Tuchel’s frustration is understandable after the emotional and chaotic struggle, but England finally overcame those challenges to produce a special victory.

The performance and fitness of his players should be a bigger talking point than the manager’s display, which, while imperfect, was not as disastrous as the England boss suggested.