Italy

Italy Were Wronged In 2002 - Infamous Referee Moreno

Byron Moreno, the infamous Ecuadorian referee, who officiated during Italy’s 2-1 second round defeat to South Korea in the 2002 World Cup, has finally admitted that the Azzurri were wronged during that notorious match.

Jun 17, 2008 6:41:54 AM

Byron Moreno

Italy were eliminated after former Perugia star Ahn Jung-Hwan’s extra time golden goal sent the joint-host nation into ecstasy.

However this all happened after one of the most infamous matches in World Cup history. Giovanni Trapattoni’s men had a perfectly good goal disallowed, had Francesco Totti sent-off for diving when replays showed that he had only lost his footing, while South Korea were awarded a dubious penalty.

After the match Italy declared that there had been a conspiracy against them, claims that were given strength by the fact they had had four perfectly fair goals disallowed in their two previous matches against Croatia and Mexico.

South Korea’s quarter-final against Spain was also ridden with controversy, as the Spaniards also had two legitimate goals chalked off, before the Koreans progressed to the semi-finals on penalties.

Links have been made between 2002 and Italy’s Euro 2008 experience after Roberto Donadoni’s men had three massive decisions go against them during the two games against Holland and Romania.

Moreno was asked about Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s ‘offside’ goal in the first match, and the former official insists that it was the correct decision to allow the goal to stand.

"The rules say that the referee decides,” sniped Moreno to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“And the referee decided for the immediacy of the action, and the goal after the departure of Panucci off the pitch.”

Moreno then unleashed a bombshell by surprisingly apologising for the disallowed golden goal of Damiano Tomassi during that infamous defeat to Korea in 2002.

"I waited for the decision of my linesman,” he said, comparing Tomassi’s offside to that of Van Nistelrooy.

“Remember South Korea-Italy? I was criticized for the Damiano Tomassi golden goal that was ruled out.

“I admit: it was a mistake. But the responsibility was with the linesman.”

However Moreno then went on to criticise the Italy of Roberto Donadoni for being too defensive, and says this is the reason they are struggling in Euro 2008.

"If they think it is a mistake, it is right to protest,” he stated.

“But it seems to me that this is not the Italy of Lippi.

“They are too defensive, they remind me of the team of Trapattoni. They also suffer the absence of Totti.”

Moreno retired from refereeing in 2003, following two long suspensions in his home country.

In 2002 he received a 20 match ban, after he played an extra 13 minutes of stoppage time during a match between Deportiva Universita de Quito and Barcelona Sporting Club. During this time Deportiva scored twice to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 victory.

After retuning from his suspension, Moreno was suspended again after controversially sending off three players in one match. He retired from officiating shortly after.

Anthony Sormani

Italy

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