World Cup live updates: 'Deal with it': French coach not worried by ref conspiracy theory
nine.com.au
France's coach shrugged off referee conspiracy theories with "deal with it" — but does that dismissal make the suspicion grow stronger or fade?
Conspiracy TheoryAttribution BiasInstitutional TrustIn-group/Out-group Bias
Theory Briefing
- France's coach publicly dismissed referee bias claims at the 2026 World Cup with a blunt 'deal with it', refusing to engage with the theory.
- Conspiracy theories about refereeing decisions tend to spread fastest when a powerful team benefits, making official denials feel like confirmation to believers.
- The coach's confidence may itself fuel suspicion — a team with nothing to hide rarely needs to tell critics to move on.