Bruno and Pepe accuse ref Facundo of bias after Portugal's defeat by Morocco

Veteran Portugal centre-back Pepe and team-mate Bruno Fernandes have taken aim at FIFA's decision to appoint Argentine referee Facundo Tello to their quarter-final clash with Morocco.

Portugal became the latest major footballing nation to fall at the 2022 Qatar World Cup as Morocco became the first one African - and Arab - country to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.

Speaking after the game, the 39-year-old defender referenced the scenes following Argentina's dramatic penalty shootout victory over Holland as apparent reason that the trophy should be given to the nation now.

Lionel Messi, Emi Martinez and various other members of the Argentina squad criticised referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz for his performance in Friday's quarter-final. The Argentine goalkeeper, Martinez, accused Lahoz of wanting Holland to advance.

'Hopefully we don't have that ref anymore... He's useless! Van Gaal said they have an advantage if it goes to penalties, he needs to keep his mouth shut,' he told BeIN SPORTS.

The Spaniard referee dished out 18 yellow cards, with FIFA investigating the conduct of both sides.

'We conceded a goal that we didn't expect. But I have to say: it's unacceptable for an Argentine to referee our game,' Pepe said.

'After what happened yesterday, with Messi speaking. All of Argentina speaking and an Argentine referee comes to whistle. After what I saw today, they can give the title to Argentina now.'

Fernandes echoed his team-mate's sentiments, saying the referee's decision not to award him a penalty was particularly incredulous.

'Don't touch me, I'll say what I have to say,' said the midfielder. 'It's very strange to have a referee who still has the their national team in competition and we don't have a Portuguese referee.

'Ours referee the Champions League, so they have the quality and level to be here. They don't referee Champions League, they are not used to this type of game, they don't have the pace for this.

'They clearly leaned the field. In the first half there is a clear penalty on me. I am isolated and never in my life will I let myself fall when I am alone in front of the goalkeeper and I can shoot on goal in a situation like that.'

Pepe's exact reasoning for criticising Tello's appointment is unclear, but Portugal's links with Brazil - Argentina's great rival - could be the reason. The defender himself was born and grew up in Brazil until he moved across the Atlantic at 18.

Meanwhile, Morocco's players celebrated wildly while Portugal's were left to rue missed opportunities.

Cristiano Ronaldo was filmed crying as he headed down the tunnel in his 196th - and perhaps final - Portugal appearance.

Speaking after the finest moment in their country's footballing history, Sofyan Amrabat said they 'deserved it 1000 per cent'.

'It's really, really, really unbelievable. I'm so proud. We deserve this 1000 per cent,' he said.

'That's just how we fight and how play, with our heart, for our country and for our people. We had some injuries and to have three defenders go in and defend like that, big respect. Big respect for everybody - for the fans, for the coach, for everyone.'

Morocco will play either England or France in the semi-finals.