Fifa president Sepp Blatter praised the performance of officials at this year’s World Cup despite some contentious decisions and a referee showing a player three yellow cards.
”I am very satisfied with the referees’ performances at the 2006 World Cup. They achieved more than their counterparts in Korea/Japan in 2002,” Blatter said on Tuesday at a meeting of Fifa’s referees committee.
The referees were congratulated for their consistent punishment of foul play, especially the use of elbows, which had reduced the number of injuries from the last World Cup.
But Fifa chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak said that feigning injury was rife, pointing out that 58% of those treated on the pitch carried on playing.
There were still some controversial rulings in Germany.
Australia was furious when Spanish referee Luis Medina awarded Italy a penalty in the 90th minute after Lucas Neill’s challenge on Fabio Grosso. Francesco Totti scored to knock out Australia.
English referee Graham Poll showed Croatia’s Josip Simunic three yellow cards before sending him off in a group game against Australia. An error that prompted Poll to retire from international soccer.
Russian referee Valentin Ivanov was criticised for showing a record four red cards and 16 yellow as Portugal knocked out The Netherlands in a round-of-16 match.
However, the biggest incident was seen by a fourth official and led to Zinedine Zidane being sent off in the World Cup final for head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest.
”The referees and assistant referees fulfilled the high expectations placed on them and complied with the instructions to protect players and thus the game better,” Fifa referees committee chairperson Angel Maria Villar Llona said. ”The preparation period of almost four years for the World Cup in Germany paid off.” – Sapa-AP