RIO DE JANEIRO – FIFA’s head of refereeing has declined to criticize a controversial penalty decision in Brazil’s opening World Cup win over Croatia — but says everyone makes mistakes.
Brazil striker Fred fell to the ground after minimal contact with Croatia’s Dejan Lovren in Thursday’s Group A game and Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura pointed to the spot. Neymar converted in the 71st minute to make it 2-1 and Brazil went on to win 3-1.
Massimo Busacca said Friday that “we are human” and that “there is not one human in life that has not committed a mistake.”
Busacca said Nishimura “had a very good position” to make the call. He showed reporters one still frame of the incident, but did not show a video replay of the disputed penalty sequence.
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