England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink involved in angry spat at half-time of Three Lions’ defeat by Brazil… following the fourth official down the Wembley tunnel
England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was involved in a spat with the fourth official at half-time against Brazil after following him down the tunnel.
Hasselbaink and the rest of the Three Lions’ coaching staff were thought to have been frustrated after Lucas Paqueta avoided a first-half red card at Wembley.
Paqueta was eventually booked for felling Jude Bellingham after a string of fouls but could have been sent off following another clumsy tackle on the midfielder.
Bellingham voiced his complaints to the linesman but the second challenge from Paqueta ultimately went unpunished, allowing him to re-emerge for the restart.
Hasselbaink looked to confront the fourth official after the half-time whistle and both men shared a conversation in a foreign language, with another player also wading in.
England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink argued with the fourth official during the loss to Brazil
Hasselbaink (right) joined Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions coaching team in March 2023
Channel 4 broadcaster Kelly Sommers said: ‘Well I can tell you that it might have been feisty on the pitch, it was exactly that in the tunnel as well.
‘I am sat behind the Brazil bench, they were animated throughout the first-half.
‘England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink followed the fourth official down the tunnel. They were deep in conversation. I’m not multi-lingual, it wasn’t in English.
‘But Danilo [Brazil’s right back] also got involved. Hasselbaink’s message was “one, two, three, four fouls, too many fouls”.’
Paqueta was taken off midway through the second half to a chorus of boos.
Lucas Paqueta avoided a red card at Wembley despite a string of clumsy fouls in midfield
Brazil wonderkid Endrick scored a late winner for the visitors after tapping in a rebound
Hasselbaink joined Gareth Southgate’s coaching staff in March 2023.
Announcing the decision, boss Southgate said: ‘He’s someone I know from having played with him at Middlesbrough and I know how curious he is about his coaching and he took that very seriously in his period managing.
‘Because he’s managed as well, but also has a keen eye on the attacking players, he’s going to provide a really good foil for us in terms of different views and opinions.
‘He’s got a great personality among the group and he can be challenging and demanding, and I think we need that around our coaching team. We need that for the players, we need the whole group to demand more and more of each other.
‘To get to where we have has been difficult, but to get to the next bit is the biggest challenge of all and we’re hoping Jimmy can help to take us there.’
