Well, this is awkward. Scotland won its first World Cup game against Haiti on Sunday, June 14 1-0, delighting The Tartan Army and Scottish supporters throughout. However, not everyone agrees with the match result, as Haiti fans have launched a petition urging FIFA to reconsider.
Scotland captain John McGinn scored the only goal of the match, with Haitian-American James Fleurissaint starting the petition.
The petition has now been signed by almost 180,000 people on change.org, with the organisation sharing it on Facebook. The activist has also started another petition against the FIFA referees, which received 30,000 signatures.
The comments on social media are what you would expect, with one person saying: “Petition was Launched by a disgruntled Haitian comedian, the joke writes itself 
you lost, move on ffs 
all signatures will most likely be Haitian”
Another person wrote: “No VAR looked at them, the second one was last kick of the ball and sending off would’ve made no difference”
The petition
The petition states: “To FIFA, the Referees Committee, and all bodies responsible for ensuring the integrity of world football.”
“We, supporters of Haiti, lovers of football, and defenders of fair play, are launching this petition to request a thorough review of the refereeing decisions that marred the match between the Haitian national team and Scotland during the World Cup. Football is more than just a sport. It is a universal language, a symbol of equality, where every nation, regardless of its size or economic power, has the chance to prove its worth on the field.”
“However, during the match in question, several arbitrary decisions raised questions. Decisions which, in our opinion, profoundly influenced the course of the game and the final result. These events not only frustrated the Haitian players but also all those who believe in fair and respectful play.”
“It is essential that FIFA, in collaboration with the Referees Committee, establish a process for reviewing matches where serious disputes are raised. Such a mechanism would ensure that potential errors are identified and corrected, thus protecting the integrity of the sport. A gesture of transparency from football’s governing bodies would strengthen public trust and uphold the spirit of the game.”
“We therefore call on FIFA to review the refereeing of this crucial match and to take appropriate measures to prevent such situations from recurring in the future. The voice of the fans must be heard, as it embodies the hopes and passions of millions.”
“We invite all those who share this concern for fairness and justice to join us by signing this petition, to defend the football we love and to ensure that every match is played on a level playing field.”
