Pierluigi Collina backs Ivan Barton after France 0-2 Spain, responds to Didier Deschamps | OneFootball

Pierluigi Collina defended FIFA's officials after Didier Deschamps questioned the referee following France's 0-2 World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain.

Soon after the match, the France head coach accepted primary blame, then asked whether Ivan Barton had the level for a semi-final of this stature without offering his own answer. According to L'Équipe, Collina responded the following afternoon.

In a statement, he said the answer was absolutely yes and that the referees are of world-class standard.

Collina is FIFA's head of refereeing.

Barton was the referee for the semi-final in question.

Source: L'Équipe