29 Oct 2004(Fri)

The Japan Football Association cannot complain about the one-match ban handed down by FIFA to Zico's interpreter, Kunihiro Suzuki.

I was sitting right behind the Japan bench at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, and there is no doubt Suzuki was way over the top in his criticism of match officials.

For long periods it looked like Zico was trying to run the match, and tell Chinese referee Lu Jun what to do.

One example was the free kick, for a foul on Suzuki (Takayuki, not Kunihiro), that led to Japan's goal seven minutes into the second half.

As Suzuki rolled around, as he often does, even when not hurt at all, Zico was on the touchline holding up four fingers to the referee. He was indicating this was the fourth time Suzuki had been fouled, and the referee decided to show the Oman defender the yellow card.

Later in the second half, Nakamura was fouled, again near the Japanese dugout, and again Zico was at the pitch side. But his interpreter was even more vociferous, clearly taking matters into his own hands rather than translating Zico's comments.

Even if he translated them from Portuguese to Japanese, the referee would not have understood as he didn't speak either language.

Still, the referee got the point, and was furious when he approached the Japanese bench.

The interpreter was dismissed, and, not knowing the rules, tried to watch the rest of the game alongside the substitutes.

Of course this is not allowed, so he was forced to walk around half the pitch to the players' tunnel, and had a couple of plastic bottles hurled at him, as well as some Arabic vitriol, along the way.

After the game I suggested he could be suspended for the next match after his red card, and many people laughed, thinking I was joking.

But why should he escape punishment?

If a player is sent off, or a manager or player dismissed from the bench, why should an interpreter be treated differently?

After all, he is a part of the game, and part of the Japanese delegation on the bench. And he was out of order.

Japan will not miss Suzuki against Singapore on November 17, as any number of Japanese/Brazilians can help out.

Maybe Zico could install Alex as his interpreter...and play Murai on the left wing!

Or bring back Ramos as interpreter, along with Kazu, Gon and Akita!

ends