Markarian lashes out at critics

Peru coach Sergio Markarian lashed out at referees, journalists and coaches after his side’s 1-0 Copa America loss to Chile on Tuesday.

Despite securing a place in the quarter-finals by being one of the best third-placed teams, the Peru coach was an angry man in his post-match press conference.

Uruguayan Markarian said defender Giancarlo Carmona did not deserve his red card during the match, and described the yellow card shown to right back Aldo Corzo as ‘laughable’.

Markarian’s main gripe seemed to be with journalists, who he said were too quick to label teams as either defensive or attacking.

“I’m fed up with labels, fed up with them,” he said. “The media, the journalists, the coaches who put labels on everything, I’m tired of it.”

“There are some coaches who are labelled as attacking, others who are labelled as not, it’s everywhere, in every country.”

“It’s very easy when they have the players and the pedigree that they do to say ‘I’m an attacking coach’. I’m tired of it. Enough.”

Markarian refused to clarify precisely who he was talking about, but Peru have been criticised by some quarters during the tournament for a defensive approach.

They will find out on Wednesday who their quarter-final opponents will be.