FIFA has strongly rebuked Diego Maradona for his criticism of the referee in England's penalty shoot-out win over Colombia on Tuesday.
In an interview with Venezuelan television, the 57-year-old Argentine legend described the result as a "monumental robbery" and blamed the chairman of FIFA's referees committee, Pierluigi Collina, for giving the game to American referee Mark Geiger.
Maradona, who is understood to receive $US10,000 a game from FIFA as part of its 'Legends' ambassador program, said Collina should "apologise to the Colombian people."
He added Geiger "knows a lot about baseball but has no idea about football".
The 1986 World Cup-winning captain accused England's players of conning Geiger and said the referee should have reviewed, and then overturned, his decision to award Harry Kane a second-half penalty.
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FIFA responded to his rant, releasing a statement in defence of its refereeing officials.
"Following comments made by Diego Armando Maradona in relation to Tuesday's round of 16 games, Colombia v England, FIFA strongly rebukes the criticism of the performance of the match officials which it considers to have been positive in a tough and highly emotional match," the statement said.
"Furthermore, it also considers the additional comments and insinuations made as being entirely inappropriate and completely unfounded.
"FIFA is extremely sorry to read such declarations from a player who has written the history of our game."
Maradona has been in rare form in Russia.
At one game he was spotted breaking stadium no-smoking laws with a lit cigar and making slant-eyed gestures towards some South Korean fans.
At another he made offensive gestures to Nigerian fans after an Argentina goal and later had to be given treatment after an apparent collapse.
