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Kewell cleared by FIFA

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20 June 2006 | 20:50 - AAP

Socceroo Harry Kewell has been cleared by FIFA over his post-match tirade against a referee and will be free to play in Australia's crucial World Cup Group F match against Croatia on Friday (AEST).

 

Football Federation Australia has confirmed FIFA has thrown out the case against Kewell over his confrontation with referee Markus Merk following the Socceroos' 2-0 loss to Brazil on Sunday.

It is understood that part of the reason for dismissing the charge is inconsistent reports from the match officials about the incident.

Kewell has explained his outburst at German referee Markus Merk as "an overheated moment".

The Liverpool star launched a verbal tirade and repeatedly pointed his finger at Merk after Australia's 2-0 loss to Brazil on Sunday.

"I think I was just overheated at the moment, it was just one of those things," he told the Nine Network, with whom he has a media deal during the World Cup.

"It is the first time I have ever done something like that."

"It was just a big, big game for us ... it was an overheated moment for me."

"They should know my record anyway that all I do is enjoy the game."

Football Federation Australia chief executive John O'Neill said the Kewell incident was unfortunate and hoped the circumstances were taken into account.

"The bigger the occasion, the more the risk that the emotions can just take over," O'Neill said.

Australian officials received advice from FIFA's disciplinary committee that Kewell had been cleared.

The Socceroos had earlier submitted Kewell's side of the story, leaning heavily on the fact referee Merk refused to talk to Australian skipper Mark Viduka when approached during the game to explain certain decisions to him and his teammates.

A team captain is permitted to ask a referee for clarification of decisions during a game, but assistant coach Graham Arnold said the Socceroos were denied even that right by Merk.

An FFA spokesman said the reasons given by FIFA not to proceed with any action against Kewell were in part "inconsistent reporting by the match officials about the incident", which took place immediately following the final whistle.

That was despite photographs and television replays clearly showing Kewell striding purposefully towards Merk, mouthing off and pointing his finger at him - the sort of anti-referee histrionics FIFA usually frowns heavily upon.

Australia can secure a spot in the World Cup round of 16 with a draw against Croatia in Stuttgart, provided Japan does not produce a big win over Brazil in its last game.

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