You only cast looks towards the linesmen to see if the goal your team has just scored is being flagged offside or not. Apart from it, the guys running up and down the sidelines and waving the flags remain out of focus. But this game was different.There was a hilarious incident in last night’s World Cup qualifying match in Chile. It was a big occasion in the city of Calama as Argentinean stars rolled into town. People sometimes get confused when there’s a big game on. And we don’t mean the players. It was the Brazilian linesmen Fabricio Vilarinho and Rodrigo Figueiredo who made the biggest blunder of the night as they forgot their flags in the hotel.Last night: Chile vs Argentina, World Cup qualifier. “Due to logistical issues,” the assistant referee was forced to use a reflective vest on a stick as his linesman’s flag in the first half. Ridiculous levels of entertainment continue to be served up over there. Madness pic.twitter.com/ZVL65Nkl5j— Tears at La Bombonera (@BomboneraTears) January 28, 2022 The match organizers hilariously reported that there was a “logistical problem”. That’s apparently the modern way to say that the match officials hadn’t brought their stuff!A linesman without a flag? Oh dear! But there’s always a solution. They came up with makeshift flags made out of broom handles and fluorescent jackets. It may not be the most elegant of solutions, but it was good enough!According to reports in local papers, the silly linesmen left the essential tools of the trаde back in their hotel rooms and only realized it when they had already arrived at the Zorros del Desierto Stаdium.Chile interior minister to Martinez and Otamendi: You should apologize and be more humbleThis event reminded the fans of the old times when football wasn’t quite so professional and organized. These things happen. And hey, at least they haven’t forgotten to bring the match balls. Now, that would have been a lot trickier a problem to solve!Besides the misadventure on the sidelines, there wasn’t much for the host to smile about. They lost 2-1 to goals by Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez, and are on the verge of dropping out of the race to Qatar. The only bright spot was a goal from their English Chilean Ben Brereton Diaz. They will meet Bolivia on Tuesday in a must-win game in La Paz.QATAR 2022 – SOUTH AMERICAN QUALIFIERSFriday23.55: (1.70) Colombia (3.60) Peru (6.25)Saturday01.00: (1.90) Venezuela (3.60) Bolivia (4.40)Tuesday23.00: (2.70) Bolivia (3.05) Chile (3.00)Wednesday01.55: (1.40) Uruguay (4.80) Venezuela (9.50)02.30: (2.00) Argentina (3.40) Colombia (4.30)03.30: (1.35) Brazil (5.10) Paraguay (11.0)05.00: (2.35) Peru (3.25) Ecuador (3.40)***odds are subject to change
