Lippi slams ref for early cards

BARI, Italy: Furious Italy coach Marcello Lippi lambasted referee Wolfgang Stark for dismissing striker Giampaolo Pazzini after just four minutes of their 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Ireland on Wednesday.

Pazzini led with his arm when he jumped for the ball alongside John O'Shea and although the Irish defender suffered a heavy cut, there was no malice in the Sampdoria striker's actions.

"It's not right, not right. ninety minutes with 10 men because of that? At international level? It is not right in any way," Lippi fumed to Rai television.