FIFA defends refereeing after France coach questions semi-final officiating

FIFA rejected criticism from France coach Didier Deschamps over the officiating in the World Cup semi-final against Spain, asserting the referees are world-class.

• Pierluigi Collina, head of FIFA's referees committee, said the tournament's referees are world-class in response to Deschamps' remarks.
• Deschamps questioned whether referee Iván Barton had the required level for a semi-final after France lost 0–2 to Spain.
• Egypt called for the removal of referee François Letexier after a 3–2 defeat to Argentina, citing gross officiating errors that favored their opponents.