FRANCE FACE MATCH-FIXING ALLEGATIONS AT FUTSAL WORLD CUP

Both France and Iran qualified for the round of 16 of the Futsal World Cup. Robertus Pudyanto - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

France brushed off allegations of match-fixing after their 4-1 defeat by Iran sent them into a softer part of the draw at the Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan.

Following a lifeless first half, Iran easily prevailed after France conceded a seemingly soft opening goal, triggering angry reactions from other teams, some of whom filed complaints to world governing body FIFA.

"FIFA is aware of complaints filed by participating teams at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 regarding the Group F match between France and IR Iran," a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement.

"No further comment will be made while this process is ongoing."

The French Football Federation was not immediately available for comment.

France coach Raphael Reynaud said the way the match played out was about avoiding bookings and injuries.

"It was Iran's responsibility to be in charge of the game," he said. "The draw is more open for us but our main goal was not to get booked and to avoid injuries."

While both teams had already qualified for the round of 16, the result means France will take on Thailand before a potential quarterfinal against Paraguay, while Iran face Morocco ahead of a possible clash against world No. 1 Brazil.

"Iran and France, coaches and players alike, have disgraced my sport. You are a disgrace to the world," Thailand coach Miguel Rodrigo wrote on X.

Retired Brazil great Falcao was quoted by French media as saying: "It shows a lack of respect for the World Cup. The match was clearly fixed from the first minute."

- Reuters 

EURO 2024: ENGLAND-NETHETLANDS REF SERVED MATCH-FIXING BAN

Felix Zwayer officiated the Netherlands' round-of-16 clash with Romania. Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

 UEFA has appointed a referee who previously confessed to match-fixing -- and whose integrity was publicly questioned by Jude Bellingham -- for England's Euro 2024 semifinal against the Netherlands.

Felix Zwayer will officiate Wednesday's clash in Dortmund despite being banned for six months in 2005 after taking a €300 ($325) bribe from another official, Robert Hoyzer.

A 2005 investigation found that Zwayer accepted a bribe to favour German club Wuppertaler SV in their match against Werder Bremen Amateure in May 2004.

Bellingham referred back to that incident in a postmatch interview in 2021 after Borussia Dortmund lost 3-2 to Bayern Munich in a huge Bundesliga game.

The England midfielder, who played for Dortmund at the time, said: "You can look at a lot of the decisions in the game.

"You give a referee, that has match-fixed before, the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?"

Bellingham was subsequently fined €40,000 for his comments, which came after Dortmund were denied a penalty at one end and conceded one at the other.

Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke added at the time: "To be clear, Jude was not spreading lies, but what happened in the past. This statement shouldn't have been, but I don't see anything untrue there. I don't expect that to have any consequences for Jude."

Zwayer officiated the Netherlands' 3-0 win over Romania in the Euro 2024 round of 16 on Tuesday.

The FA declined to comment on Zwayer's appointment when contacted by ESPN.

England defender Luke Shaw was quick to dispel any thoughts of conspiracy when asked at a news conference Monday if the refereeing situation was uncomfortable.

"No, not at all," the Manchester United player said. "We have to respect UEFA in whoever they decide to pick as the ref. That won't change anything about us.

"We still just focus on the game in hand, not too much about what refs we've been given or this and that. For us, it won't make any difference."

Shaw went on to say he had never played in a game where he thought the officials were acting against his team.

"Sometimes in the heat of the moment, you get angry in games and you might think that, but no," he said.

"Whatever ref has been picked has been picked. We just have to be ready and not focus on that."

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS, BERNARD LAPORTE FOUND GUILTY OF MATCH FIXING