New Zealand backs Nigeria, Bosnia referee

New Zealand Football is defending a Kiwi referee facing international criticism for appearing to favour Nigeria during a controversial World Cup game.
Bosnian fans want FIFA to sack Peter O’Leary after an image emerged that appears to show him celebrating with Nigeria’s goalkeeper.
It was a light moment between a referee and a player after the game, but the image has added insult to injury for Bosnia-Herzegovina fans.
Their side was knocked out of the tournament and they’re levelling blame at O’Leary: first for his call on Edin Dzeko’s disallowed goal, then for his failure to blow for a foul as Nigeria scored the game’s only goal.
A representative for Kiwi refs says there is nothing sinister about O’Leary’s post-match behaviour.
“It was just two human beings coming together at the end of a high-pressure game,” says New Zealand Football referee development manager, Ken Wallace. “The goalkeeper puts his arm around the referee, what’s the referee going to do?”
But an online petition has since been launched calling for FIFA to fire O’Leary. Some of those signing it have challenged his impartiality, and others have questioned his skill – saying because New Zealand’s primary sport is rugby, O’Leary doesn’t know football.
“I thought Peter had a tremendous game,” says Wallace. “I thought he looked a world-class referee in that game.”
A friend of O’Leary’s who is also a ref says the comments will be hurting.
“He’ll be upset about any suggestion that he could be cheating,” says the friend.
O’Leary might have the support of his backers on home soil, but FIFA will be the one to decide if the official will get another shot at World Cup action.