Liverpool striker Harry Kewell was on Tuesday cleared by a (world soccer governing body) Fifa disciplinary committee to play in Australia’s crucial World Cup group match with Croatia over his full-time rant at a match referee, team officials said.
A team spokesperson said Fifa dismissed the case against Kewell following his confrontation with German referee Markus Merk immediately after Australia had lost 2-0 to champions Brazil in Munich on Sunday.
Fifa head of communications Markus Siegler said in Berlin Kewell had been cleared because of an ”inconsistent report from the referee”.
The Australian team, with legal help, submitted Kewell’s side of the story, leaning heavily on the fact referee Merk refused to talk to Australian skipper Mark Viduka when approached during the game to explain certain decisions to him and his teammates, the team spokesperson said.
Photographs and television replays clearly showed Kewell yelling at Merk and furiously pointing his finger at him over his display.
The Australians were furious that Merk pulled them up for 25 fouls against only nine for Brazil.
Brazil was awarded 26 free kicks to Australia’s 14, while Merk set the disciplinary tone early when defender Brett Emerton was yellow-carded in the 13th minute for his reaction to conceding a soft free-kick.
Assistant coach Graham Arnold said at Monday’s training that the Australian team would submit Merk’s refusal to discuss contentious issues during the match with skipper Mark Viduka.
”The fact Mark Viduka even tried to speak to the referee, but he wouldn’t have a bar of it, frustrated the players even more,” Arnold said.
”The captain should at least be allowed to ask a question, but the referee wasn’t having any of it and that built up in frustration.
”It’s very unlike Harry Kewell. He’s played in massive games, Champions League and FA Cup finals, and it’s unlike him to react like that.”
Australia can claim a place in the last 16 at the World Cup with a draw against Croatia in Stuttgart on Thursday, provided Japan does not produce a big win over Brazil in its last game. — AFP
