Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Soccer World Cup MLS Euro Champions League etc -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: George Papadopoulos who wrote (371)	6/19/1998 2:28:00 PM
From: George Papadopoulos	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 5130

From the wires...I totally agree with the Danes here! Fuming Danes blast Blatter and Platini over card flurry by Niall Edworthy BANDOL, France, June 19 (AFP) - New FIFA president Sepp Blatter was told to mind his own business Friday as the Denmark squad vented their anger over the dismissal of two of their players in Thursday's 1-1 draw with South Africa. Substitutes Miklos Molnar and Morten Wieghorst were both shown the red card by Colombian referee John Jairo Toro Rendon following a plea by Blatter and World Cup chief Michel Platini for officials to get tougher. The referee, who also sent off South Africa's Phiri, brandished 10 cards in total. Molnar, who was sent off for an innocuous-looking challenge on Lucas Radebe, will now miss two games and Wieghorst, who was sent off for an alleged tackle from behind on Benny McCarthy, will miss one. FIFA have backed the referee, saying neither decision was subject to appeal -- and the Danes made no attempt to disguise their fury when they appeared at their training in the Mediterranean resort of Bandol. "It's absolutley ridiculous," said Denmark centre back Marc Rieper. "We were almost laughing about it after the match, but it's not actually very funny because we have now lost two of our players. "Platini and Blatter have a lot to do with what has happened with the referees who now feel under enormous pressure to get their cards out. "It's a joke that two men, one of whom has never kicked a football in his life, are threatening to ruin the World Cup by their interventions." The Celtic defender added: "The game was not at all dirty and I think there were only 22 free-kicks, one of the lowest in matches so far. None of the challenges were harsh. I think it's completely ridiculous." Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who was cautioned for time-wasting but escaped punishment for a gesture he appeared to make to the crowd about the referee, was equally damning about the match official. Blaming the sudden flurry of red cards in the World Cup firmly on the new FIFA president, the Manchester United star fumed: "Blatter shouldn't get involved. He should take care of his own business. There is no way he could say our referee was good." Schmeichel said he feared for the future of the competition if the referees continue to carry out Blatter's request for greater ruthlessness from match officials. "The refereeing started very well and there was no reason to change it," he added. "It's hopeless when they give us a referee of that standard at this level." Star forward Brian Laudrup said the next few matches would tell whether the World Cup would be ruined by card-happy referees. "We all toasted Jan Heintze after the match because he was the only substitute not to be sent off," said the Chelsea-bound winger. "We now seem to have a problem with the referees in the World Cup. In our first game there was a good balance and the ref let the match flow. "But now they are under pressure after what has been said and the result was the kind of game you saw yesterday. "The next few games will show where we stand and whether or not the referees could destroy the remaining matches." Celtic midfielder Wieghorst, who was sent off three minutes after coming on, vehemently protested his innocence. "It was not a tackle from behind. We were side by side," he said. "I thought the challenge possibly deserved a free-kick and maybe a yellow card if the referee was going to be particularly severe. I was stunned to see him produce a red card."