Luis Fernando Suarez has questioned the implementation of goal-line technology in the World Cup amid confusion over France's second goal during their 3-0 victory over Honduras in Porto Alegre on Sunday.
- Laurens: Benzema -- from Belarus to Brazil
- Horncastle: Three points from Porto Alegre
- Highlights (U.S. only)
With Les Bleus 1-0 up in the second half, Karim Benzema's volley rebounded off the post and onto Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares, who tried to claw the ball away from the goalmouth -- but referee Sandro Ricci awarded the goal despite the lengthy protests of Suarez's players.
A "No Goal" message declared Benzema's initial effort to have not crossed the line, with the follow-up effort being correctly awarded as a goal, and the Honduras coach revealed his frustrations over the incident.
"I wasn't upset because it was a goal. I was upset because the technology first declared that it wasn't a goal. Then it was a goal," he told reporters on Sunday.
"I don't know which one I should believe. If technology should make everything clear, why at the beginning did the blessed machine say no and then yes... what is the truth?"
While the 54-year-old held heated discussions on the touchline with France coach Didier Deschamps regarding the goal, Suarez had no complaints over the result.
"They did things better than we did," he said. "There are no excuses. They were superior. There are circumstances in which you have to look for a way to improve. It is tough to have a numerical disadvantage [10 men] for such a long time against a team that plays the ball well.
"The referee is there to impart justice and I guess he did what he had to do. But in terms of football, they were just better."
The disadvantage Suarez was referring to concerned the dismissal of Wilson Palacios: the Stoke midfielder received a second booking after bringing down Paul Pogba for a penalty in the 43rd minute, which Benzema scored to put Deschamps' side 1-0 up.
"Matches sometimes play out in this way, when one loses and there is much to learn," he continued. "We should have had a different result. We could have developed things in a different way if we had played with 11."
Suarez also suggested that repeated suggestions in the media over Honduras' supposed physicality on the pitch could have influenced the officials, with Pogba and Palacios both yellow-carded for an earlier altercation off the ball.
"I look for a way to play with an intense style but respecting the rules," he said. "If we erred in terms of the rules, the referees are there to impart justice. If we made a mistake, well they would give us a red card as they did today and we have to accept that.
"During all this time, this is the first time we have seen a red card. Afterward, and I hope this doesn't sound like I am whining, regarding what I said before about the way it was handled -- saying what was said about Honduras, it could be interpreted in a certain way in certain situations.
"I can't change my speech about the subject of the officiating decisions. I ask with all due respect that you excuse me for not speaking about the officiating.
"I have never done it before. It happens on the pitch and it needs to stay there. During matches these things happen, fouls are committed and [Palacios] had a yellow card. These are the circumstances of the match."