The Iran Football Federation (IFF) has lodged an official complaint with FIFA against Serbian referee Milorad Mazic for what it said "the poor officiating" during the Iran-Argentina match in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Iran lost to Argentina 0-1 in the Group F second-round match Saturday, reports EFE.
According to the report, in the 54th minute, Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta tripped Iran striker Ashkan Dejagah in the box but Mazic denied a penalty to the Iranian team.
"It was a clear penalty. Millions of people saw that. I don't understand it, he had to have seen it was a penalty," Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz was quoted as saying.
"He (Mazic) was five meters away, there is no way he couldn't have seen it. I have the right to say this and I only hope I am now not punished for telling the truth because it was a decision that nobody can understand," the Portuguese added.
IFF general secretary Mehdi Mohammad Nabi wrote a letter to FIFA, saying "I think it's not fair. The referee denied our clear penalty."
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--IANS/EFE
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