Audio By Carbonatix
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - World governing body FIFA are allowing players from bigger soccer nations to get away with infringements on the pitch that smaller nations' players get punished for, Australia forward Harry Kewell has said.
Kewell, who was controversially sent off in the Socceroos' 1-1 draw with Ghana at the World Cup for a handball on the goal line, said other teams were getting away with far worse at the tournament in South Africa. "What are FIFA doing about it when teams like us are getting hammered and the bigger teams don't?" Kewell told Australian media Sunday. "We've been told to play the game fair and I think we do.
"Nothing against the bigger teams but they're allowed to do it because of who and what they are."
Australia failed to make it out of the group phase at the tournament after a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Germany, in which Tim Cahill was sent off for a tackle that his opponent felt was unworthy of a red card. The Socceroos beat Serbia 2-1 in their final game, but were eliminated on goal difference.
Kewell, whose total World Cup contribution was 24 minutes against Ghana before he was sent off, added that players from the bigger teams were not getting punished for diving at the tournament.
Italy's Daniele de Rossi was pilloried by New Zealand media after his dive earned a penalty for the world champions in their 1-1 draw with the All Whites, while Kewell said a dive by Serbia's Milos Krasic in their game had also gone unpunished.
"We were told simulation should be a yellow card -- but where was the card?" Kewell added.
"I'm not having a go at him (Krasic), he tried to get a penalty for his team; but it went unpunished," he said.
Credit: Reuters
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Joy FM Party in the Park kicks off as patrons flock in amid growing excitement
5 minutes -
Ghana, 2 others to see strong absolute growth in electricity consumption – Fitch Solutions
21 minutes -
Return to bond market on gradual basis – IMF to government
45 minutes -
Activist Felicity Nelson brings Christmas comfort to Accra Police cells
54 minutes -
Obuasi Bitters Luv FM Nite with the Stars Thrills Kumasi on Christmas Eve
54 minutes -
4 banks including one state bank remain severely undercapitalised – IMF
1 hour -
Police arrest 28-year-old with 98 parcels of suspected cannabis in Tamale
1 hour -
Does Goldbod owe BoG US$214m, or has BoG lost US$214m? A policy and financial risk analysis
4 hours -
US Congressman says airstrikes first step to ending killings in Nigeria
4 hours -
Afenyo-Markin urges NPP to move from talk to action after 2024 election loss
4 hours -
Ghana’s 69th Independence Day Concert in UK to be held on March 7 – Sleeky Promotions
4 hours -
BoG’s international reserves could cross $13bn by end of 2025
4 hours -
Afenyo-Markin urges discipline, unity as NPP prepares for 2026 flagbearer primary
4 hours -
Haruna Iddrisu demands tough sanctions for officials implicated in galamsey
6 hours -
‘Opoku-Agyemang is very capable of leading the country’ – Haruna Iddrisu
6 hours
