And it isn't the easiest job in the world, of course, particularly when millions of people across the globe are watching your every move and decision. The football referee expects to be scrutinized, especially during a World Cup. But in Germany, he's become the center of attention. First there was England's Graham Poll who forgot to send off a player despite yellow-carding him 3 times, then there was Valentin Ivanov, responsible for a record-breaking 4 red cards and 16 yellows. Sue Turton reports from Germany.

The enemy camp where they are plotting England's downfall and finding any possible excuse to have playmaker Deco reinstated. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's best effort's that Holland were guilty of unsportsmanlike behavior on Sunday, claiming the Dutch failed to return the ball after stoppage for an injury. Deco had merely been righting that wrong, as he had downed defender Johnny Heitinga. No extenuating circumstances have yet been put forward for the second yellow he picked up 5 minutes later. But FIFA today were clearly having none of it.

"No, there was a phone call and they were clearly told forget it."

There is growing discontent over the standard of refereeing at the tournament. Trigger-happy Russian referee Valentin Ivanov handed out 16 in the Portugal match but missed Luis Figo's headbutt on Mark van Bommel, giving him just a yellow for a red-card offense when filled in by his assistant

"Ivanov couldn't calm the game down. He gave too many cards away, 4 yellow-red cards and 8 yellow that shows that the referee is not the master of the situation"

But the man who controversially disallowed England's last minute goal in the quarters of Euro 2004 thinks discipline must come from the coaches. "

No one ever mentions the coaches. They did nothing to try to calm down the play. They just looked on and did nothing. And they, too, have a responsibility. It's cheap and very easy now to only blame the referee."

The Aussies have the most cause for referee rage after Graham Poll's matcher rebliss. Poll's inability to count yellows left Croatian Josip Simunic on the pitch when he should have been sent off.

…The third time, this never seen before at a World Cup, Graham Poll has lost control, it finished…

But things went from bad to worse last night as a fairly innocuous challenge by Lucas Neil on Fabio Grosso won the Italians a penalty in the last seconds of injury time. Totti was on target, and the Australians were on the plane home.

"Devastated, devastated, so we played too good to end in that way. Not fair, not fair. They’ve come too far. We got robbed. I know it, you know it, every, (we all know it) everybody that watched the game knows it. We got robbed. We should have won that game, (we are still proud) but we are still proud. The Aussies are not as proud. "

FIFA have tightened up the game, instructing referees to book players for diving, for feigning injury, for time wasting, even for wearing jewelry. This clampdown has resulted in the highest card tally ever at a World Cup tournament.

At Mexico 86, only 133 yellow cards were brandished, that nearly doubled by France 98. Four years later, it was up to 272. But in Germany they are already on 298 with eight more matches to play. It's a similar story with the reds, just 8 in Mexico, and 22 at France 98. The figure then dipped in Japan, but in Germany, they are already on 24.

I think the referees are gonna take some more responsibility in jumping into decisions. And it worries me greatly that we are gonna end up in this competition, you know, with some of the best players around not being able to function in the biggest match of all.

Every one of these World Cup referees will be hoping to make the cut to officiate in the final knockout matches. Graham Poll knows, he won't be among them when the decision is made in Frankfurt tomorrow.

Sue Turton Channel 4 News, Baden-Baden.

1.stoppage:n. act of stopping, halt; something which causes a secession of movement, obstruction, blockage停止, 中止; 堵塞; 阻塞; 阻碍

2.extenuating:adj.If you say that there are extenuating circumstances for a bad situation or wrong action, you mean that there are reasons or factors which partly excuse it. (FORMAL)

3.referee:n. arbitrator, unbiased person who makes decisions and settles disputes; umpire, official who enforces game rules during sports competitions 裁判

4.headbutt:v. hit a person using a strong thrust with the head

5.innocuous:adj. harmless, not causing injury or damage; not offensive; uninteresting, insipid 无害的, 无伤大雅的

6.penalty:n.In sports such as soccer, rugby, and hockey, a penalty is an opportunity to score a goal, which is given to the attacking team if the defending team breaks a rule near their own goal.罚球

7.feign:v. fake, pretend; make up, fabricate; imitate 装作, 假装; 捏造; 做假, 假装

8.tally:n. reckoning, score, total; something on which an account or score is kept; mark made to keep record of a number of items 符木, 得分, 记帐

9.brandish:v. If you brandish something, especially a weapon, you hold it in a threatening way.

10:officiate:v. perform ceremony; perform duty; serve as officiator; referee (Sports) 当体育比赛裁判

11.knockout:n. competition is one in which the players or teams that win continue playing until there is only one winner left. (mainly BRIT; in AM use elimination)淘汰赛