American referee Mark Geiger has been accused by Colombia captain Radamel Falcao of shamefully favoring England during the ferocious round of 16 World Cup clash between the teams Tuesday night. Geiger oversaw a bitterly contested match and doled out eight yellow cards, while also calling 36 fouls as England broke its long-standing penalty shootout curse to move into the quarterfinals.

“I found it peculiar that they put an American referee in this instance,” Falcao said in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw, which ended with England’s 4-3 win on penalties. “To tell you the truth, the process leaves us a lot of doubts. He spoke only English. Some bias was certain.

“When in doubt, he always went to the England side. It is shameful that this happens in the round of 16 at a World Cup.” The way the game turned nasty also earned the Major League Soccer referee some criticism on social media. In truth, if not for him taking swift action, it could have spiraled completely out of control.

Hard fouls were a staple throughout the game, and players from both sides regularly overreacted to contact in the hope of seeing an opponent punished. After England was awarded a second-half penalty – eventually converted by Harry Kane – several Colombian players tried to scuff up the penalty spot while Geiger was not looking.

Jordan Henderson was on the receiving end of a head-butt from a Colombian player, and later dished out one of his own. Routinely, Geiger would be surrounded by a cluster of baying players from either England or Colombia – and sometimes both – protesting decisions. Commentators around the world acknowledged the game as one of the dirtiest in the World Cup so far, but Falcao was adamant his team was the wronged party.

“Through small calls he was pushing us (toward) our goal, that was clear for me,” he added. “The referee disturbed us a lot. In the 50-50 plays, he always made the calls in favor of England. This situation was undermining us. He didn’t act with the same criteria for both teams.”

It is not the first time Geiger has been involved in controversy during the tournament. After officiating a group-stage game, he was accused by Morocco’s Nordin Amrabat of asking for the jersey of a Portugal player, a claim that was angrily refuted by both Geiger and FIFA.

Critics of Neymar have been swarmed on social media, from media pundits and former players to Mexico’s Miguel Layun, whose powder-puff tread on Neymar’s shin provoked a squealing, writhing reaction on the turf. Neymar has, according to Marca, been kept away from all media duties, despite being the figurehead of the team and its most popular member, specifically to shield him from tricky questions about his antics here in Russia. 

“Brazil has decided to protect (its) star from all and any attacks,” the newspaper wrote. Ahead of Friday’s quarterfinal with Belgium, the player’s father, Neymar Santos Sr., reportedly ordered his son’s friends not to respond to any critical messages on Twitter in the hope that the controversy dies down.

Meanwhile, there has been a pro-Neymar offensive from within the camp and among those closely associated with it. Neymar’s on-field behavior seems to be having the opposite effect of what is intended. Referees, perhaps wise to his constant shenanigans, have become more circumspect in awarding him free-kicks, to the point where several legitimate fouls against Mexico went unpunished. It is hoped that the charm attack provides an antidote.

“I am against all these opinions (on Neymar acting),” Brazil World Cup legend Ronaldo said. “He is an intelligent player in his movements and on how to defend himself from being tackled. “I don’t think referees have been protecting him enough. When people repeatedly hit me I would feel a sense of unfairness. Criticism is nonsense.”

Other players in the squad have also chosen to focus on pro-Neymar comments, even more so than discussing the impending game against a tough and determined Belgium side. Brazil is the favorite virtually every time it plays in a World Cup and that will be the case again, but Belgium, a popular outsider pick pre-tournament, is seen as having a viable shot at an upset.

“We know what we are capable of but Brazil are the favorites,” Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said. “But it is a dream match for our players – they were born to play in a match like this.”

Martinez did not specify how his team would try to combat Neymar but a tough and rugged approach can be expected. Neymar has been the most fouled player at the tournament so far, but has also, according to British newspaper The Sun, spent a total of 14 minutes lying on the turf clutching some body part or other. There are two sides to one of soccer’s brightest stars, but Brazil’s desperation for a sixth world title is such that it is more than happy to overlook his shortcomings.

Every remaining team has shown a willingness, ramping up the physicality and refusing to be shouldered out of the way of a path to destiny. For some, a more cynical approach is a new experience, one that has paid dividends.

“Maybe we are getting a bit smarter,” England head coach Gareth Southgate said after his side outlasted the Colombians on penalty kicks. “Maybe we are now playing by the same rules the rest of the world are playing by. But we kept our dignity and our sportsmanship, and if we went down, it’s because we were fouled.”

What he meant by the “same rules,” is that England has learned how to game the system. How to milk fouls to maximize its chances of winning a free-kick. How to exert physical pressure (and sometimes pain) on an opponent without getting spotted by the referee, or his assistants, or the omnipresent cameras ready to beam footage to the video referee. How to simulate injury.

Boy, it was dirty at Spartak Stadium on Tuesday. And it was fascinating. The spiciness of the contest took away nothing from the spectacle. It wasn’t a particularly good advertisement for soccer, but two teams showing desperation to emerge victorious and willing to let nothing stand in their path makes for gripping entertainment.

“Let me say that the match was very rough,” Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said. “I think we have to try to defend football and we have to do a little more to try to prevent certain situations, knowing they will arrive. It was uncomfortable to play this match knowing that feeling was in the air. Something is happening in football.” Despite Pekerman’s words, Colombia showed itself to be master of the sly.

When American referee Mark Geiger awarded a penalty to England in the second half, a carefully managed Colombian production kicked in. Several players surrounded Geiger, obscuring his view. Behind them, out of sight and with all eyes drawn to the furor nearby, others crept over to the penalty spot to dig their studs into the turf to rough up the surface as much as possible. The intention was to make things tougher for England’s Harry Kane when he finally stepped forward. It didn’t work. Kane scored.

That won’t stop other teams and individuals from trying. Luis Suarez of Uruguay seems to have managed to stop biting people, with the last of his such infractions coming at the last World Cup four years ago. But he’s still dirty, mixing worldly skill with a constant stream of cheap shots, including, but not restricted to, pinching, elbowing, shirt-pulling, feigning pain and treading on a rival’s toes.

An intriguing matchup awaits between Suarez and France’s Lucas Hernandez on Friday. Hernandez likes to play up faux injuries and already fell to the turf in writhing anguish against Australia after contact akin to a high-five from an infant. Goodness knows how he will react when Suarez gets near him.

Given that FIFA and its referees have proven themselves utterly incapable of stamping out simulation, players now seem to regard it as a badge of honor. Antoine Griezmann and Hernandez gleefully boasted of their ability to “manage the game” — and no one doubted what they were talking about.

Brazil’s Neymar is the most notorious World Cup faker, with his theatrics spawning countless memes. Brazil has tried desperately to defend the honor of its favorite soccer son, which should be no shock knowing that last time they were without him in the World Cup they were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the 2014 semifinal.

However, Neymar would likely be at the bottom of the list of the “best” or worst, depending on how you look at it, exponents of dirty play. His rolls and fakes are so dramatic it is embarrassing. But referees are on to him, and he is getting less positive calls his way because of it.

No one remaining here is saintly in approach, which might be part of the reason they are still in the tournament. Belgium knows how to assert itself; Russia is rugged by necessity against more talented opponents; and Croatia’s silkily skilled midfield is backed up by defenders unafraid to channel their inner goon on occasion. It is what it is. It’s the World Cup and it’s all on the line. It’s not pretty but its gripping and it’s the greatest indicator of all, that this is the soccer reward most worth fighting for.