Referees in the spotlight
Referee: Jorge Larrionda
Country: Uruguay
Highlight match: Italy versus USA
Some ESPN analysts prophesied that Larrionda wouldn't get another World Cup match after officiating in the Round One Italy-US match.
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Italian newspapers reported that 38-year-old Larrionda -- a clerk who likes breeding animals like dogs and parrots -- had been suspended back home in Uruguay before the 2002 World Cup.
While few doubted Larrionda's decision to send off Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi for the vicious elbow into American striker Brian McBride's face, many felt American defender Pablo Mastroeni being sent off without a yellow card was a bit rash.
And Mastroeni's defence colleague Eddie Pope also might feel hard done by the second yellow card that forced him out of the game for a tackle he got the ball with. And experts are screaming to point out ample instances of divers getting away.
Doesn't seem FIFA is listening though. Larrionda was the referee in the major-incident-free France-Togo game.
Image: You want an elbow? I'll show you: Daniele De Rossi (number 4) being sent off by Larrionda in the Italy-USA match at Kaiserslautern stadium on June 17.
Photograph: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images
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