Thai killed in penalty row
By Ben Memuletiwon from Germany
Thursday, June 29, 2006
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Photo: Sun
News Publishing
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The controversial decision to award Italy a last-gasp penalty
against Australia has led to the killing of a soccer fan in
Thailand.
The Daily News newspaper claims that two Thai fans clashed
after Fabio Grosso went down later on, allowing Francesco
Totti to slot home the winner and ensure qualification to
the last eight of the World Cup.
The publication insists that an Azzurri follower – who
police are looking for – fatally stabbed Rabieb Lukchan,
45, after the two quarrelled over the assignment of the spot-kick.
Meanwhile, Italy defender, Fabio Grosso has no doubts that
the penalty he won in injury time against Australia was justified.
The Palermo full-back has been criticised for the way he fell
over Lucas Neill, but the stopper has no regrets.
"There was a foul by Neill, there was a penalty,"
said the man, who seems set to join Inter, after the World
Cup.
Grosso surged into the Australian area late on when he firstly
beat Marco Bresciano and then met with Neill, handing Francesco
Totti the chance to smash home the winner from the spot.
"It was the most important piece of action in my career,"
added Grosso. "It was a delicate time for us, we were
suffering and on the verge of extra time.
"I don’t know where I found the strength to make
that run. I just wanted to get that ball to Vincenzo Iaquinta,
but I opted to dribble, felt contact and went down."
Up until that point, Grosso had been struggling to make an
impact for the Azzurri side in the competition.
"I’m happy because it fills me with joy to be a
protagonist at this competition," continued the ex-Perugia
man.
"My mother, Loredana was also in the stands to see it.
She hasn’t been present at one of my games for some
time, so that was great too."
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