Italians rule out complaint over 'goals'

Sunday, June 9, 2002 Reuters/Soccernet

IBARAKI, Japan, June 9 (Reuters) - Italy will not be making a formal complaint to FIFA about the two goals they had disallowed during Saturday's 2-1 World Cup defeat to Croatia, an Italian Football Federation (FIGC) official said on Sunday. Filippo Inzaghi slips the ball into the back of net, but referee Graham Poll disallowed the goal (Reuters).

Raffaele Ranucci, head of Italy's World Cup delegation had said after the group G game that the FIGC was considering making a complaint to world soccer's governing body but later he told the FIGC's website that no such move was planned. 'The FIGC is not thinking of any kind of formal step regarding the refereeing of the game,' said Ranucci. 'We are not going in for victimisation or plots or such things against Italy.'

'Unfortunately we paid for refereeing errors and that can happen. It was a performance like many others,' added the FIGC official. But Ranucci said he had visited the dressing room of English referee Graham Poll to ask for an explanation for the two disallowed goals - both of which had been signalled by Poll's Danish linesman. 'Poll told me that the first was for offside against (Christian) Vieri and the second was for shirt pulling against (Filippo) Inzaghi,' said Ranucci.

Vieri's header was ruled out in the 50th minute with the scores level while the second goal was disallowed in the final minutes with Italy trailing 2-1 after a 60-metre long ball from defender Marco Materazzi. The result leaves Croatia, Italy and Mexico on three points each in group G with pointless Ecuador facing the Mexicans on Sunday. FIFA has defended the general standard of refereeing during the World Cup after the complaints.

"Generally the overall standard (of refereeing) is more than satisfactory," FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper told a news conference, commenting on the Italian displeasure. "It is acknowledged that mistakes may be made. I'm not necessarily saying this was the case last night. I do want to emphasize that. "It is in the nature of the beast that mistakes can happen. Referees are humans just like players and we shouldn't look at isolated matches .... but the standard as a whole."

Meanwhile, Cristiano Zanetti is the latest player to be added to coach Giovanni Trapattoni's injury list after picking up a foot injury in the defeat. Zanetti, a late replacement for Luigi Di Biagio, who had to withdraw with a neck injury, hurt his foot in a tackle during the match and although he completed the 90 minutes he was left in pain. The Italian Football Federation said on their website that Zanetti's injury would be assessed on Sunday by medical staff.

Defender Alessandro Nesta also suffered bruising to the sole of his foot and has been rated doubtful for the final group match against Mexico next week. Captain and left-back Paolo Maldini, who had turned his ankle in training before the game, came through the match without any problems, medical staff said.