FIFA to probe World Cup referee

Byron Moreno, the referee at the centre of the storm over Italy's World Cup exit, is to be investigated by FIFA.

World football's governing body said today it had launched an investigation into the Ecuadorean official following controversies at the World Cup and in his own country.

FIFA announced today: "As a result of a number of controversies regarding referee Byron Moreno in Japan, Italy and South America over the past few months, FIFA has decided to launch an investigation into the affair. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has been entrusted with dealing with it."

Moreno was involved in a huge controversy at the World Cup and is blamed by Italian fans for their team's second-round exit, when they were beaten 2-1 by South Korean in extra time.

He awarded an early penalty to the hosts, which was saved, disallowed a Damiano Tomassi goal that would have won the game for Italy and then sent off striker Francesco Totti in extra time for diving.

The incensed Italians heaped abuse on Moreno after the match.

Moreno, who is standing in the local council elections in Quito, was suspended for 20 matches by Ecuadorean officials this week after his handling of a first division match between Liga de Quito and Barcelona of Guayaquil.