THREAT OF BAX Germans Meet Russians Today

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, Page 19

THREAT OF BAX Germans Meet Russians Today

(N.Z F.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. West Germany and the Soviet Union meet at Liverpool today for a World Cup semifinal overshadowed by an unprecedented threat to ban Argentina from the next series in 1970. The game brings together sides which share a belief in the arts of direct attack, strong tackling, hard running and a high level of fitness. The ban threat came from Ihe International Football Federation (F.1.F.A.) disciplinary committee after a stormy quarter-final on Saturday in which Argentina lost 1-0 to England. The game was held up for eight minutes when the Argentine captain, Antonio Rattin. was sent off. England now meets Portugal at Wembly in the second semi-final tomorrow. Assurances Required The disciplinary committee also fined Argentina and suspended three players. It said Argentina should be refused entry to the 1970 World Cup| in Mexico unless she pro-] vided assurances about the future conduct of her players. Dr. Menendez Behety, president of the Argentine Football Association, immediately

said the Argentinians could not accept entry to the 1970 tournament on such a condition. It was impossible to give a guarantee in advance of the behaviour of a team and its officials.

He added: “I can tell you, however, that I personally am sure they will behave correctly." Italian Criticism The Rome daily “Il Messaggero” described the defeat of Argentina by England in the World Cup match refereed by the German referee, Rudolph Kreitlein, as a “colossal injustice.” i In a report headlined I “Scandal in London—Too 'Much Favouritism for the j English Team” the newsI paper’s special correspondents sharply attacked the “incredible partisanship” of Kreitlein. They asked: “How in a world championship, can one send off a player for protests, for insults (presumed) and thus condemn a team irremediably. How can one do it, especially when the possible insults were made in a language unknown to the object of the insults?” Argentine newspapers continued to criticise all aspects of Argentina’s 1-0 defeat by England. The newspapers were unanimous in alleging that the German referee. Rudolph Kreitlein, had been partial to England.