FIFA are investigating whether South Africa's Pierre Issa was wearing a listening device during his side's final group match against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. A press agency photograph of Issa taken during the match (right, but not with the correct ear) clearly shows a mysterious device clipped over his right ear with a wire running from it and going under his shirt. A spokesman said that there was nothing in the rules to stop players being in direct contact with the bench. But he added that at first glance it appeared to be unsportsmanlike if Issa was getting instructions from the sideline.
South Africa were playing at the same time as France-Denmark and had a slender chance of going
through from Group C, provided the hosts beat the Danes. But South Africa, who needed to beat Saudi Arabia, could only manage a 2-2 draw. Obviously the reception wasn't too good.