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Heartache
as Italians disqualified from World Cup
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... exclusive Gerald World Cup coverage in brief
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Heartache
as Italians disqualified from World Cup
A
distraught and babbling Italian soccer team returned home from South Korea
yesterday after their shock disqualification for losing a match. Team
captain Paolo Maldini admitted the team was sickened by the decision taken
by referee Byron Moreno in the 26th minute of extra time. "It's like
they [FIFA] had already decided that the next match we lost, we would
be out. It is a shameful conspiracy. In Italy, people are calling it robbery."
Burglarized
Italy's crushing groinular blow came in five parts, each one a disallowed
goal. Just what went wrong for these decent, good-looking men in too-tight
tops? The Evil Gerald takes a look back at five controversial decisions
and asks the official concerned: Wassa matter you, eh?
Goal
Number One: Too Sexy  |
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Francesco
Totti infuriated this official with his flagrant goal. He was sent
off for being too sexy for the second time in the match - a clear
breach of FIFA regulations. The ref is unrepentant. "If you
look at the Italian collars, they are all a little bit higher than
everyone else's."
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| Goal
Number Two: Wasn't really that Good |
 It's
a good goal, not a great goal from hero Paolo Maldini. Referee Graham
Poll explains. "When I said 'offside', I really meant 'mediocre'
and 'unworthy of this great sporting nation'. I hope that's cleared
it up." |
| Goal
Number Three: He Tricked the Defender! |
 This
was a clear-cut decision according to the referee. "You can
see Vieri approaching down the right flank, and it's always looking
like he's going to cross to Totti. But he doesn't! It's as if he
has 'feigned' going across and then just run around the defender.
What a bastard. No goal." |
| Goal
Number Four: Goalie got a hand to it |
| "People
accuse me of being heartless, but I would have loved to have been
able to award this goal. But I couldn't. You see, the goalie got a
hand to it there, and that means it's a goal for the other
team. Shame, really." |
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| Goal
Number Five: Studs Showing |
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FIFA
has been very clear about this rule in recent years, and this tournament
has seen a marked decrease in the number of studs on show. But eagle-eyed
referee Carlos Simon spotted that this goal had been slotted in with
all studs blazing, only missing collision with the keeper by inches.
Will they ever learn? |
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