World NewsFIFA Dismiss Cup Video Claim |
FIFA have examined the award of the critical penalty in yesterday's Confederations Cup match between Brazil and Egypt and insist video evidence was not used.
Egypt filed a complaint to the world governing body over the manner in which English referee Howard Webb arrived at the crucial decision to hand the defending champions a 90th-minute spot-kick in Bloemfontein.The penalty was awarded for a handball on the line by Egypt defender Ahmed Al Muhamadi but the decision was only given after the player received treatment for an injury, with Webb initially indicating a corner to Brazil.
Al Muhamadi was then sent off and Kaka scored the 90th-minute spot-kick as Brazil won 4-3 but Egypt claimed the officials referred to video evidence to make their decision - which is against FIFA rules.
However, FIFA this afternoon issued a statement insisting the decision had been reached thanks only to "teamwork between the match referee and his assistant".
It read: "FIFA have this afternoon written to the Egyptian Football Association regarding yesterday's FIFA Confederations Cup match between Brazil and Egypt.
"FIFA had received a letter of complaint from the Egyptian FA following the match at the Free State Stadium in Mangaung/Bloemfontein.
"Whilst not disputing the correctness of the referee's decision to award a penalty in favour of Brazil, and show the Egyptian player Ahmed El-Mohamadi the red card, the Egyptian FA questioned the manner in which the referee Howard Webb came to his decision.
"FIFA analysed the decision by going through all the evidence at its disposal, including the referee's match report, as well as the additional statement that Howard Webb provided at FIFA's request.
"A thorough analysis of the aforementioned documents revealed that the decision in question was achieved through teamwork between the match referee and his assistant referee number one, Mike Mullarkey, who confirmed the offence to the referee from his clear viewing angle."
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
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