Matías Galarsa. Photo by Khel Now
After the final whistle, an unusual incident involving a player and head referee Ivan Barton caught the fans’ attention, according to The Sun. During a collision on the field, the referee lost his watch, which fell onto the field. Galarza picked it up and put it on his wrist for a few seconds before immediately returning it to its owner.
Video of the incident quickly spread on social media and sparked lively discussion. Some users viewed the incident as a harmless joke, while others saw it as a violation of sportsmanship. However, no official disciplinary action was taken against the player.
The match itself was tense: the only goal was scored right at the start of the game on a long-range shot by Galarza. Paraguay managed to hold on to its lead despite pressure from the opponent and the ejection of one of its players late in the match.
The loss has seriously complicated Turkey’s chances of advancing to the playoffs.
