FIFA chief backs referee Jonas Eriksson after Pellegrini criticism

FIFA’s referees chief has offered his fully support to Jonas Eriksson in the wake of Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini’s claims that he was ‘not partial’.

After his side’s 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League last 16 first leg tie at the Etihad Stadium, Pellegrini slammed the official and questioned the decision to appoint a Swedish referee for the match, which saw Barcelona awarded a penalty and Martin Demichelis red carded.

“From the beginning I felt the referee was not impartial to both teams,” Pellegrini stated.

“He did not have any control of the game. He was on the side of Barcelona from the beginning until the end.”

However, FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce, who is also the chairman of FIFA’s referees committee, has jumped to the defence of Eriksson.

“It is absolute nonsense to say a referee should not be chosen for an important match because he comes from a smaller country,” Boyce told Press Association Sport.

“If the referee has proved himself at the top level it should not matter what country they come from.

“All the referees who have been chosen for the World Cup have been assessed by experienced officials who have been involved at FIFA and UEFA level and marked on their performances in the World Cup and confederation competitions at a high level.”

Boyce added: “I read the remarks that were made by the Manchester City manager. I saw the game and my own personal opinion is that I thought the referee had a good game. He is a very experienced referee who has been chosen for the World Cup because of excellent reports of his performances in Europe.”