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No action against Germany: FIFA

July 03, 2006 00:31 IST
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FIFA said on Sunday it is taking no action against any Germany player following the fracas after their World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.

However, sanctions are still being considered against officials of both teams and the disciplinary committee has already opened cases against Argentina defender Leandro Cufre and forward Maxi Rodriguez for their part in Friday's incident.

The trouble began immediately after Germany won 4-2 on penalties to reach the semi-finals.

A case was opened immediately against Cufre, a non-playing substitute who was red-carded by Slovak referee Lubos Michel for his part in the fracas.

FIFA spokesman Markus Siegler also confirmed that Rodriguez has now been cited "following his apparent attack on the German No.7 Bastian Schweinsteiger".

Siegler said at FIFA's daily briefing on Sunday that the disciplinary committee is still studying video footage of the incident and collecting other evidence.

"No German players will be sanctioned," he said, "but a further assessment is being made with regard to officials of both teams."

Asked if a breakdown in security enabled officials to go on to the pitch after the match, Siegler said: "Let us not be too picky about that, it was a highly-charged emotional moment and officials do go on the pitch to congratulate the players.

"That is one thing -- that has no relation to what followed on Friday."

CERTAIN URGENCY

Photographs in German newspapers on Saturday showed Cufre kicking defender Per Mertesacker in the midriff.

FIFA had said there is a "certain urgency" in dealing with the incident, particularly in the case of the German team, if anyone was guilty of misconduct, since Germany play Italy in the opening semi-final in Dortmund on Tuesday.

FIFA officials and the referee were caught up in the chaos after the shootout and punches and kicks appeared to be thrown in scenes lasting about 90 seconds in front of 72,000 at the Olympiastadion. The match had finished 1-1 after extra time.

The trouble appeared to start when Germany midfielder Tim Borowski gestured towards the Argentina players to "keep quiet" having scored his penalty to make it 4-2 in Germany's favour.

 

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Source: REUTERS
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