FIFA's top refereeing official has come out in defence of the match official in Tuesday's semifinal clash between France and Spain, following sharp criticism from the French manager Didier Deschamps.
FIFA's director of refereeing Pierluigi Collina praised the referee as world-class and stood firmly behind his handling of the high-pressure semifinal. Collina noted the intense scrutiny that comes with officiating major international matches and stressed that the official made correct decisions throughout the game. The comments follow remarks from Didier Deschamps, who voiced frustration over several key calls. FIFA aims to protect match officials from unfair criticism while promoting respect for the game's rules and those who enforce them at the highest level.
106.224 SRY