Uruguay has apologised to the Australian government after a mob attacked the Australia team arriving to prepare for Sunday's World Cup play-off second leg. An angry mob of about 50 supporters jostled and abused the Australian team as they attempted to board their team bus at the airport in Montevideo. At least one player was punched and a number of other players and officials were spat on as they left the airport terminal.
The Australian coach, who television pictures showed wiping spit from his face, said he was disgusted by the incident. "It will have to be reported -- you can't have that happening, it's not civilised," said Frank Farina. Uruguay's Ambassador to Australia said that his country deeply regretted the incident. "We have been playing international games like this for over a century and an episode like this one never happened before. Ours is a very peaceful and peace loving country and we don't have a history or tradition of hooliganism," said Pablo Sader.
Australia will take a 1-0 lead into Sunday's return leg at the Estadio Centenario stadium after beating Uruguay in the first leg of the play-off in Melbourne. The aggregate winner will reach next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
Uruguay's players have been heavily criticised by their supporters after finishing fifth in the South American qualifiers to miss out on an automatic place in the World Cup. Uruguay won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950 but have failed to qualify for the finals since 1990. Australia have qualified only once, in 1974.
Meanwhile, Colombian soccer officials have sent a letter of complaint to FIFA about circumstances surrounding last week's 1-1 draw between Argentina and Uruguay which knocked Colombia out of the World Cup.
"We register with surprise the goings on and the circumstances which surrounded the game played between the teams of Argentina and Uruguay," wrote Colombian Football Federation president Alvaro Fina. "We would be grateful...for an opportune comment on this matter which involves circumstances far removed from the fair play that you have preached and defended." Fina also pointed out that the match in Montevideo started 10 minutes later than the Paraguay-Colombia game in Asuncion.
According to the Montevideo daily El Pais, "Uruguay drew with Argentina whose players were applauded from the centenario (stadium) for having played the last minutes passing backwards and sideways".
Argentinian goalkeeper German Burgos said after the 1-1 draw: "We didn't gift them anything. We went out to win as always." Juan Sebastian Veron also said: "There is nothing to suspect." The 1-1 draw meant Colombia lost out on the chance of a playoff against Australia for a World Cup place, despite beating Paraguay 4-0 the same day.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
