FIFA briefing on Pinto incident

(19 Jun 2002)

1. Wide shot of FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper entering FIFA presser
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Keith Cooper, FIFA spokesman:
"The disciplinary committee; and this was a statement issued by the chairman of the disciplinary committee, Mr Marcel Mathier, took into account the reports of the referee and of the match commissionaire and the referee's inspector at the match in question and came to the conclusion that Joao Pinto had punched the referee in the stomach shortly after the referee had shown the player the red card. This constitutes a serious violation of the disciplinary code of FIFA and in view of the seriousness of this incident and in order to reach a fair and equitable decision for all parties considered, the disciplinary committee has called for further information on the case. But on the basis of the documents already in its possession, and in view of the conclusions that have already been drawn the committee has decided to suspend Joao Pinto henceforth provisionally from all football activity. So this case is still sub-judice, still subject to further investigation and for that reason there will be no further comment on this case."
3. Cutaway journalists
4. Wide shot presser

STORYLINE:

FIFA's disciplinary committee was seeking more information on an incident involving Portuguese forward Joao Pinto, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

Pinto was provisionally suspended on Tuesday for punching a referee after being given a red card.

FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper said the committee was seeking further information on the incident in order to reach a final conclusion.

After reviewing footage of Friday's first round match between South Korea and Portugal, the committee decided Pinto had punched Argentine referee Angel Sanchez in the stomach after he was shown a red card for tackling a South Korean player from behind.

South Korea won the game 1-0, eliminating Portugal from the tournament.

On Tuesday the panel banned Pinto from any match activity, including playing for his club, Portugal's Sporting Lisbon.

Cooper said it was up to the committee to decide when it would announce its final decision on Pinto's suspension. He said because Portugal was out of the competition, there was no great urgency.

But FIFA will not release footage shot from a separate video camera that Cooper earlier claimed would "shed new light" on the incident.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...