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Player Keeps Ref's Watch, Causes Confusion
20 Jun
Summary
- Matías Galarza scored the winning goal for Paraguay.
- Galarza found and wore the referee's lost watch.
- An ex-referee expressed bewilderment at the player's actions.

During a World Cup match between Paraguay and Turkey, player Matías Galarza scored the winning goal. However, a more unusual event occurred shortly before halftime when referee Iván Barton lost his watch on the pitch. Galarza discovered the watch and, to the surprise of many, put it on himself before eventually returning it to Barton a few minutes later.
The incident drew sharp criticism from former German referee Patrick Ittrich, who was working as a pundit. He expressed strong bewilderment regarding Galarza's behavior, questioning the player's motivations and actions on the field. Despite the controversy, Galarza was not penalized for the watch incident.