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<span class="vitstoryheadline">Referees always at center of attention</span>
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<span class="vitstorydate">06/05/2002</span>
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    <p>
      <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/sports/worldcup/sdavis/vitindex.html"><img align="left" width="90" src="http://www.dallasnews.com/images/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_stevedavis.jpg" height="120" border="0">
       </a> The truisms of any World Cup:
    </p>
    <p>
      New stars will step forward.
    </p>
    <p>
      Players will commit mistakes that will fracture hearts in far away 
      places.
    </p>
    <p>
      The referees will make news.
    </p>
    <p>
      Oh, will the referees make news. It's starting to happen at Korea-Japan 
      2002.
    </p>
    <p>
      Brazil and Spain probably deserved victories in their first-round 
      openers over Turkey and Slovenia, respectively. But penalty kick 
      decisions that could only be called &quot;questionable&quot; in polite 
      conversation significantly affected both matches.
    </p>
    <p>
      Referee Mohamed Guezzaz blew an 87th minute call, awarding Spain's 
      Fernando Morientes a penalty kick on a harmless play near the edge of 
      the penalty area. A Slovenian attacker had more of a claim at the other 
      end just minutes earlier.
    </p>
    <p>
      Luckily for Guezzaz, overmatched Korean referee Kim Young Joo looked 
      even more inferior a night later, rescuing Guezzaz from a potential 
      legacy as the worst man in the middle on opening week.
    </p>
    <p>
      Granted, it must be intimidating to oversee a game involving mighty 
      Brazil. Kim looked the part, meekly granting exceptions to a Brazilian 
      team that now parlays rough, so-called &quot;professional&quot; fouls with its 
      signature offensive dash.
    </p>
    <p>
      Brazil has made an art of fouling to squash the counter attack - yet Kim 
      allowed it to persist with relative impunity.
    </p>
    <p>
      Then, in the game's dying minutes, he awarded a penalty kick to Brazil 
      when striker Luizao was hauled down rushing toward goal. Turkish 
      defender Alpay Ozalan clearly began tugging on Luizao's shirt well 
      outside the 18-yard box. Most referees would give defenders the benefit 
      of the doubt - not even necessary in this case - instead of deciding the 
      game with the penalty kick award.
    </p>
    <p>
      Turkish officials were even more upset at the theatrics from Brazilian 
      star midfielder Rivaldo minutes later. Hakan Unsal was thrown out for 
      petulantly kicking the ball at Rivaldo, who was waiting to take a corner 
      kick. The ball hit Rivaldo in the leg. He's taken harder lumps from 
      teammates while celebrating goals.
    </p>
    <p>
      Rivaldo fell to the ground, mysteriously clutching his face. It was 
      exactly the kind of play-acting for which FIFA has promised intolerance. 
      Unsal deserved the yellow card - his second of the match, resulting in 
      the ejection. But Kim should also have cautioned Rivaldo, if not 
      outright ejecting him.
    </p>
    <p>
      Now, FIFA says it is investigating and might take action against Rivaldo 
      on Wednesday. A fine against Rivaldo will signal weakness. A game 
      suspension against one of the world's top players would make other teams 
      take notice. (It won't hurt Brazil, with two first-round lightweights 
      ahead.)
    </p>
    <p>
      The head of Turkey's soccer association, Haluk Ulusoy, is lashing out. 
      &quot;I don't know where the World Cup is going with these referees,&quot; he said.

    </p>
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