Brazilian star Rivaldo could face a severe ban and a fine after faking an injury that led to Turkey’s Hakan Unsal being sent off in the closing minutes of Monday’s Brazil-Turkey World Cup match.
The Barcelona player collapsed at the corner flag clutching his head after Unsal kicked the ball at his leg. Korean referee promptly showed Unsal the red card as Rivaldo rolled in agony.
Fifa’s disciplinary committee were studying a video of the incident on Tuesday and were expected to give a ruling later in the day announced Fifa representative Keith Cooper.
Before the World Cup began players were warned that referees had been ordered to clamp down on cheating.
”In the last World Cup it was the tackle from behind, this time our target is simulation,” explained George Cumming, head of the referees commission.
After the match Rivaldo admitted he had feigned injury.
”Obviously I exaggerated the incident for the guy to be sent off,” he said. ”The ball hit my hand and my leg. It didn’t hit me in the face but that kind of attitude (kicking the ball against an opponent) must not be allowed on the pitch. He deserved to have a red card.”
Rivaldo, in his second World Cup, has always been perceived as an underachiever at international level, despite an impressive scoring record, and has much to prove in South Korea and Japan. – Sapa-AFP