World Cup Soccer: FIFA investigating misuse of laser by Greek fans in Israel qualifier

Israel Football Association says national team goalkeeper Dudu Aoute was blinded by a laser beam just prior to Greece's winner.

By ALLON SINAI
dudu awat 88 ap (photo credit: )
dudu awat 88 ap
(photo credit: )
The Israel Football Association approached FIFA on Tuesday, complaining that national team goalkeeper Dudu Aoute was blinded by a laser beam just prior to Greece's winner from the penalty spot during last Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Crete. In the 66th minute of the match, Georgios Samaras scored from the spot to give the Greeks a 2-1 lead, which they would maintain until the end of the match, significantly hurting Israel's chances of qualifying for next summer's World Cup in South Africa. The IFA sent world soccer's governing body a video of the match in which it can clearly be seen that a laser beam was being pointed at Aoute as he was preparing to face the penalty, and is now waiting to see what will come from the disciplinary proceedings FIFA has confirmed have started. A FIFA spokesman told Reuters news agency that Greece was warned in October after laser beams were used by their fans during their qualifier against Switzerland. He went on to say that if Greece is found guilty a second time it could face a hefty fine, deduction of points or having to play future games behind closed doors. "I alerted the referee right from the first moment," Aoute told Army radio on Tuesday. "In the second half the fans with the lasers changed sides and continued to blind me. However, with all the noise there's no doubt this had no effect on the fact I failed to stop the penalty. "I think it would be ridicules if the IFA appeals the final result because of this, as we didn't deserve to win and everybody saw that. However, if a complaint will be filed it will be so such happenings don't occur again."