Portugal dismisses speculation on referee

Portugal dismisses speculation on referee

Associated Press
Alcochete, Portugal

The Portuguese camp dismissed talk that Markus Merk, the
German referee named for the Euro 2004 final on Sunday, will be
biased toward Greece because he is close to Greece's German coach
Otto Rehhagel.

The two Germans are friends and Merk was the Rehhagel family
dentist in Kaiserslautern. Rehhagel has said he's known Merk
since the referee was 15 years old.
The Portuguese daily sports paper Record published a front-page
photo of Merk next to a large headline saying: "We've got our eye
on you."

But Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari dismissed the
speculation and defended the integrity of Merk, who refereed a
semifinal at Euro 2000 and the 2003 European Champions League
final.

"I don't want this talk to continue," Scolari said in his
characteristically blunt style.

"Let's put it aside and recognize the referee's worth.
Friendship means nothing. Everyone will be doing their job," he
said.

"If UEFA picked this referee for the final, it's because they
trust him."

Fernando Couto, Portugal's most-capped player, backed up his
coach.

"We're not concerned," Couto said. "The refereeing at this
tournament has been great."

"I don't think we've got any reason to change the
appointment," UEFA spokesman Rob Faulkner said.

"We're confident with the fact we have appointed the
appropriate referee to take charge of the final."
Faulkner said he did not know if UEFA was aware of the
relationship before it named Merk to officiate the final game.