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Vogts apologizes to FIFA for
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Posted: Wednesday July 15, 1998 05:55 PM
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Vogts had complained about the refereeing and suggested there might have been a conspiracy against Germany (AP) |
BONN (Reuters) -- German coach Berti Vogts has apologized to FIFA
president Sepp Blatter for criticizing the refereeing in Germany's 3-0
loss to Croatia in the
World Cup quarter-finals, the SID sport news agency said on Wednesday.
It said FIFA had released a statement on Wednesday saying Vogts regretted
the style and contents of critical remarks he had made to the media after
Germany were defeated by Croatia.
Vogts had complained about the refereeing and suggested there might have
been a conspiracy against Germany, which has won the World Cup three times.
"After the loss in the quarterfinal against Croatia, Vogts had tried many
times in the last few days to contact Blatter," the FIFA statement said.
"He succeeded and spoke with the president on the telephone [Wednesday]
after he returned to Zurich from Paris."
"Berti Vogts has demonstrated the spirit of true sportsmanship," a
statement from Blatter said. "I have the highest respect for him as a
trainer and person. We had a very pleasant conversation and as far as I am
concerned the matter is finished."
German Soccer Federation (DFB) chairman Egidius Braun had repeatedly
called upon Vogts, coach since 1990, to apologize for his critical remarks.
The German media have harshly criticized Vogts and several players who
blamed the officiating for their defeat.
The DFB will hold a meeting on Friday in Frankfurt to assess the World
Cup performance.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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