‘Disrespecting’ referee to officiate crunch match
THE referee once accused by John Terry of disrespecting him in a Champions League match, will take charge of England’s crucial World Cup against Slovenia on Wednesday.
German Wolfgang Stark came under fire from the Chelsea captain after he sent off Didier Drogba during the Blues’ quarter-final defeat to Inter Milan in March.
At the time, England defender Terry said: “When a decision didn’t go our way I, as captain, went to speak to the referee and he turned his back on me.
“I wasn’t shouting. I went to try to talk to him and when he wouldn’t talk that is when I got frustrated. That is just pure disrespect.”
Nothing short of victory will do for England as they look to survive an embarrassing
group stage exit, but Fabio Capello’s men, no matter how fired-up, will need to watch their step.
Notwithstanding the fact that Stark’s nation Germany could be possible last-16 opponents, the 40-year-old is no stranger to controversy.
In the 2007 Under-20 World Cup semi-final between Chile and Argentina he was
accused of “losing control of the match early” before issuing two red cards and seven yellows.
He may also be seen as a bad omen having officiated Arsenal’s Champions League exit to Barcelona this season.