Blatter adds to referee criticism

Blatter was critical of referee Terje Hauge's performance

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has added to the criticism of Champions League final referee Terje Hauge.

Blatter claimed the Norwegian official was wrong to send off Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann, and in the process disallow a Barcelona goal.

"He was too quick to blow the whistle. In certain actions, and not just in the goalmouth, he should let the advantage and finish the action.

"He can then come back and blow the whistle," said Blatter.

The Fifa president was critical of Hauge's whole performance, not just the decision on which the game hinged.

Blatter added: "It was a great game but it was not helped by the refereeing from the very beginning.

Technically, he was right to send Lehmann off Uefa director of communications, William Gaillard

"He should have let the goal stand, given the goalkeeper a yellow card then the match is still 11 against 11, and it's an open game because it is 1-0."

"At such a high level we expect at Fifa and in the World Cup that such situations will not occur."

But Uefa director of communications William Gaillard defended referee Hauge.

Gaillard said: "I'm not sure he made mistakes. Technically, he was right to send Lehmann off.

"Perhaps if he had waited half a second more and been less quick it would have had a different outcome.

"These are the circumstances of life but technically he was right."