Women’s World Cup: ‘That wasn’t football’ – England boss Phil Neville on fiery Cameroon game

England boss Phil Neville said his side’s Women’s World Cup win over Cameroon “didn’t feel like football”.

The Lionesses booked a quarter-final spot against Norway after a 3-0 victory, but the game was marred by Cameroon’s reaction to several video assistant referee decisions.

At one point, they refused to start play after Ellen White’s goal was awarded by VAR.

“That wasn’t a World Cup tie in terms of behaviour,” Neville told BBC Sport.

“I didn’t enjoy it, the players didn’t enjoy it. My players kept their concentration, but those images are going out worldwide and young girls are seeing that behaviour and it’s not right.

“There has to be a standard of behaviour that you have to do, and my players did that.”

Asked if he had any sympathy for Cameroon, Neville said: “None. The rules are rules. For the second goal, Ellen White was onside, deal with it.

“We are spoken to by Fifa about 350,000 times and in the end, the referee took pity on them.

“They should count their lucky stars that it wasn’t five or six. A team that are refusing to play… I’m proud of my players for playing a game of football.”

More to follow.

BBC Sport has launched #ChangeTheGame this summer to showcase female athletes in a way they never have been before. Through more live women’s sport available to watch across the BBC this summer, complemented by our journalism, we are aiming to turn up the volume on women’s sport and alter perceptions. Find out more here.