Russian governor blames hacker for anti-German Twitter message

A Russian governor has blamed a hacker after comments linking Germany’s World Cup performance to the two World Wars were posted on his Twitter account.

The message on the account of Oleg Korolyov, the governor of Lipetsk, said “Germany performed disgracefully at the 2018 World Cup only because on this land they unleashed two World Wars and the souls of tens of millions of victims took revenge and will take revenge on them.”

The message was later deleted and a subsequent post appeared suggesting a hacker wrote the first message to undermine “productive co-operation” between Russia and German businesses.

THE INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL FOR ‘I DIDN’T TOUCH HIM! HE JUST FELL’

FIFA won’t, for now, give yellow cards to players who appeal for video reviews with a TV-screen gesture.

Referees can caution players for gestures like showing an imaginary card to an opponent, or sarcastically applauding a call, but they haven’t yet booked any of the numerous players pleading for a Video Assistant Referee review.

FIFA’s referee committee head Pierluigi Collina says making the gesture is fine if it’s “not in a disrespectful manner.”

With the many different languages spoken by referees and players at the World Cup, Collina says “sometimes making the shape of the TV screen is a way to use a word you don’t know.”

LISTEN TO REFS AT HOME FIFA says TV viewers could listen to World Cup referees live in the future.

After screening clips of referees talking to the video assistant referees during World Cup group games, Collina says “it’s something that could be interesting to be offered, because if you make known why now a decision was taken, maybe you can clarify and get this decision better accepted by the football community.”

Collina says the VAR system is new and “before running you have to learn to walk.”

Some sports such as rugby do broadcast referee’s discussions with other officials and with players.

FRANCE WITHOUT MENDY Left-back Benjamin Mendy has been ruled out of France’s match against Argentina because of a muscle injury.

Coach Didier Deschamps says Mendy, who returned from injury in France’s last group game against Denmark, “has a little muscular problem and won’t be available tomorrow.” He did not disclose any detail of the injury.

The attack-minded Mendy was included in Deschamps’ squad for the World Cup despite his lack of playing time with Manchester City. Mendy only returned to competition from a knee injury in April.

Mendy’s absence means Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez will start at left-back against Argentina.

BLAME VIPS FOR EMPTY SEATS FIFA says VIP fans are often to blame for empty seats at its World Cup games.

Empty seats have been seen during some games that are officially sold out. That’s because FIFA measures its 98 per cent attendance rate for the World Cup based on the number of tickets sold and delivered, rather than the number of people who attend the game on the day.

FIFA competitions director Colin Smith says “we want every seat filled inside the stadium. The reality is that there are some no-shows.”

DELPH ON BABY WATCH England midfielder Fabian Delph is returning home temporarily from the World Cup because his wife is due to give birth to their third child.

The Football Association says Delph flew home from Kaliningrad, where he played in England’s 1-0 loss to Belgium, Thursday.

England plays Colombia on Tuesday.

FAIR-PLAY TIEBREAKER STAYS FIFA says it will review a rule that saw Senegal eliminated from the World Cup because of yellow cards.

The rule, in use for the first time at the World Cup, meant Japan barely attacked in the end of its 1-0 loss to Poland on Thursday because it was due to qualify on its disciplinary record.

Smith says officials will evaluate the rule after the World Cup “but as it currently stands we don’t see any need to change.”

Smith defends the rule as preferable to drawing lots to determine who qualifies, although “the preference is that slots and teams advancing is on the basis of goals and results and there’s clear winners ... the fair play criteria is an additional criteria and it’s very clear.”

MODRIC OUT OF THIS WORLD Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic says teammate Luka Modric plays football “from a different planet” and is the best to have ever played for their national team.

Rakitic grew up idolizing Croatia midfield great Robert Prosinecki but says Modric, now a four-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid and Croatia’s captain at the World Cup, is at the next level.

Rakitic says “not only is Luka the best player ever (for Croatia), but he is a great person, a leader and we are following him.” Croatia plays Denmark on Sunday. With many of Croatia’s so-called golden generation into their 30s, including Modric and Rakitic, every game now is potentially their last together at a major tournament.

Rakitic says “if we at the end manage to lift this trophy, we go into international retirement happy.”

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The Associated Press