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Fifa defend referee’s performance in Brazil v Croatia match France’s Loïc Rémy thinks Brazil striker Fred ‘should be punished’ for diving
(35 minutes later)
Fifa referees chief Massimo Busacca has come to the defence of under-fire official Yuichi Nishimura and said it was “a fantasy” to suggest he had favoured hosts Brazil. France’s Loïc Rémy has no sympathy for fellow striker and former club teammate Fred, and thinks he should be “punished” for the way he won a controversial penalty in Brazil’s 3-1 win against Croatia.
The fallout from the World Cup opening game’s high-profile refereeing blunder continued on Friday with Croatia’s players questioning the appointment of the Japanese official for the match against hosts Brazil. Fred went down in the penalty area under light contact from defender Dejan Lovren in the 71st minute, allowing Neymar to convert a spot kick that gave Brazil a 2-1 lead in Thursday’s World Cup opener.
Nishimura awarded a penalty against Dejan Lovren despite the Southampton defender barely touching Brazil striker Fred – the scores were 1-1 at the time and Brazil went on to win 3-1. Croatia’s players were furious with referee Yuichi Nishimura’s decision, with Lovren saying “we can give the World Cup directly to Brazil” as he struggled to contain his anger.
Busacca insisted there had been some contact between Lovren and Fred even if it was minimal. He told a news conference in Rio De Janeiro: “You think about the decision, you don’t have time to think ; ‘Ah, but I am in Brazil’. A human cannot think four times in one second. Rémy said on Friday that he thought Fred had hoodwinked Nishimura.
“He does it well, throws himself at the right time because you can see that there’s no foul at allLovren doesn’t pull him back,” said Rémy, who played two seasons with Fred for Lyon from 2006-08. “Experience comes into it, and it’s important to fall at the right time. For me, the striker should be punished for this kind of wrongdoing.” France open their campaign against Honduras in Group E on Sunday.
“It’s true that it’s always infuriating to lose to refereeing mistakes, so I hope it doesn’t happen to us,” the 27-year-old Rémy said. “I don’t want to be controversial, but when you look at yesterday’s game the Croats played very well and deserved another result. Not necessarily to win, but they deserved a different result. It’s certain that referees make mistakes and you have to pay attention.”
Although Remy will probably be a substitute against Honduras, the speedy Newcastle forward fully intends to seize any chance he gets.
“I clearly stated my ambition during the warmup matches. That remains the case. I think this World Cup will be a big moment in my career,” he said. “I will make the very most of the time I get on the pitch. Maybe Honduras will leave space behind, so it’s up to the coach to decide. But he knows he can use me up front or on the right.”
Remy expects Honduras will try and rough France up.
“We’re supposing that they will get stuck into us,” he said. “We have to respond in the same way, and not let them walk all over us.”
Meanwhile, Fifa referees chief Massimo Busacca has come to the defence of under-fire official Yuichi Nishimura and said it was “a fantasy” to suggest he had favoured hosts Brazil.
The fallout from the World Cup opening game’s high-profile refereeing blunder Fred – the scores were 1-1 at the time and Brazil went on to win 3-1.
Busacca insisted there had been some contact between Lovren and Fred even if it was minimal. He told a news conference in Rio De Janeiro: “You think about the decision, you don’t have time to think; ‘Ah, but I am in Brazil’. A human cannot think four times in one second.
“This is fantasy. I am sorry to say this, but this is fantasy. We have to believe the referees are honest, and respect them. Maybe there will be mistakes, but we must respect them.“This is fantasy. I am sorry to say this, but this is fantasy. We have to believe the referees are honest, and respect them. Maybe there will be mistakes, but we must respect them.
“In refereeing, we have black and white but we also have cases that can be on the borderline. Yesterday, we can discuss; was it enough [contact]? Yes or no?“In refereeing, we have black and white but we also have cases that can be on the borderline. Yesterday, we can discuss; was it enough [contact]? Yes or no?
“On the pitch, the referee takes a decision in less than one second. He is concentrated on the gesture and when you see the hands doing something, it’s difficult to arrive at one conclusion.“On the pitch, the referee takes a decision in less than one second. He is concentrated on the gesture and when you see the hands doing something, it’s difficult to arrive at one conclusion.
“The left hand touched and then also the right. If you play with the hands out, the referee sees that clearly and decides one way.”“The left hand touched and then also the right. If you play with the hands out, the referee sees that clearly and decides one way.”
Thierry Weil, Fifa’s marketing director, also rejected suggestions of bias. In response to a question, he said: “You are pretending something I cannot accept. You are pretending Fifa is helping the home country, and that is not even the case.Thierry Weil, Fifa’s marketing director, also rejected suggestions of bias. In response to a question, he said: “You are pretending something I cannot accept. You are pretending Fifa is helping the home country, and that is not even the case.
“Fifa has nothing to favour the home country. We are here to make the tournament good.”“Fifa has nothing to favour the home country. We are here to make the tournament good.”
Such a controversy was the last thing that World Cup organisers wanted – and will fuel calls for Fifa president Sepp Blatter’s proposal for challenges via TV replays to be approved.Such a controversy was the last thing that World Cup organisers wanted – and will fuel calls for Fifa president Sepp Blatter’s proposal for challenges via TV replays to be approved.
FA general secretary Alex Horne, a board member of the International FA Board which rules on law changes, had said hours before the Brazil v Croatia match in São Paulo that a high-profile blunder could provide impetus for Blatter’s proposal for managers to be allowed two challenges a match.FA general secretary Alex Horne, a board member of the International FA Board which rules on law changes, had said hours before the Brazil v Croatia match in São Paulo that a high-profile blunder could provide impetus for Blatter’s proposal for managers to be allowed two challenges a match.
Horne told Press Association Sport: “Don’t underestimate the power of circumstance. If we get something happening in the next three or four weeks that is blindingly obvious – like Frank Lampard’s ‘goal that wasn’t a goal’ in Bloemfontein – then that could give this real momentum.”Horne told Press Association Sport: “Don’t underestimate the power of circumstance. If we get something happening in the next three or four weeks that is blindingly obvious – like Frank Lampard’s ‘goal that wasn’t a goal’ in Bloemfontein – then that could give this real momentum.”
Nishimura is an experienced referee who was fourth official for the 2010 final, but Croatia’s former Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka questioned why he was appointed for this game, claiming no one could understand him – though it is a requirement for World Cup referees to speak English.Nishimura is an experienced referee who was fourth official for the 2010 final, but Croatia’s former Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka questioned why he was appointed for this game, claiming no one could understand him – though it is a requirement for World Cup referees to speak English.
Corluka said: “I never saw in my life that a referee doesn’t speak English. He was speaking something in Japanese but no one could understand him.Corluka said: “I never saw in my life that a referee doesn’t speak English. He was speaking something in Japanese but no one could understand him.
“The decision to award the penalty was embarrassing and it changed the game.”“The decision to award the penalty was embarrassing and it changed the game.”
Croatia coach Niko Kovac said Nishimura had been “out of his depth” and Lovren added that if the hosts Brazil were to be favoured in such a way the organisers could just award the trophy to them now.Croatia coach Niko Kovac said Nishimura had been “out of his depth” and Lovren added that if the hosts Brazil were to be favoured in such a way the organisers could just award the trophy to them now.
He said: “Of course I am angry. I wanted to cry but what can you do? If it is like this, then you can give the World Cup directly to Brazil.”He said: “Of course I am angry. I wanted to cry but what can you do? If it is like this, then you can give the World Cup directly to Brazil.”
France’s Loïc Rémy had no sympathy for former club teammate Fred, and thinks he should be “punished” for his actions.
“He does it well, throws himself at the right time because you can see that there’s no foul at all. Lovren doesn’t pull him back,” said Rémy, who played two seasons with Fred for Lyon from 2006-08.
“Experience comes into it, and it’s important to fall at the right time. For me, the striker should be punished for this kind of wrongdoing.”