Referee makes team see red

RIO DE JANEIRO, August 5: A bizzare refereeing decision in the Bragantino-Vasco da Gama game in the Brazilian Football League caused some controversy. The astonishing end to the game came when referee Marco Antonio Cunha appeared to blow the final whistle, the players swapped shirts and began their way to the dressing room.

The referee, in an apparent change of mind, then consulted his fellow officials and decided to carry on with the game.

But Vasco, who had held on for a 0-0 draw despite having two players and their coach sent off during the second half, refused to return to the field and launched bitter protests about the referee, led by outspoken director Eurico Miranda.

It was not clear whether the score would be allowed to stand.