THE IRANIAN
Letters
Baharmast was right
Had you practiced true journalism, meaning waiting long enough to confirm and double confirm "news" stories particularly in cases involving the reputation of Iranian-Americans, you would not rush to discredit international referee Mr. Baharmast with the story about his "erroneous call."
As it turns out FIFA now has a picture published on the internet proving Mr. Baharmast call in the last minute of Brazil vs. Norway game was accurate (see Reuters news below). By the way, in the story you published there was no mention of the provable error of the Swiss referee which could have cost the game for Iran in its match against the U.S.A.
Furthermore, you did the same thing by publishing an unfounded allegation against another successful Iranian in a letter titled "The Jerk of the Year" [referring to Mori Ejabat].
You also published hateful letters full of slurs by Americans against ALL Iranians in which they described ALL Iranians as "back stabbers" and "low lives."
In celebrating the 500th issue of The Iranian Times you stated , in a sense, that you will publish anything and everything. In that case, anyone with access to publishing tools and media could call himself or herself a "journalist."
While I feel your intentions have remained good and unsullied, I am sorry to say your judgment, evidently, has not kept pace.
Kambiz
Ksjg9@aol.com
Enclosed, FIFA's official statement with the URL for the picture vindicating Mr. Baharmast:
World Cup-FIFA says Internet shows referee was right
By Mike Collett
PARIS, June 25 (Reuters) - FIFA on Thursday used an Internet photo for the first time to show that a World Cup referee was right to award a controversial penalty for an infringement not visible in television replays.
American referee Esfandiar Baharmast was widely criticised for awarding the 89th minute penalty in Tuesday's Brazil v Norway game when he ruled that Brazilian defender Junior Baiano had pulled the shirt of Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo.
Television replays failed to show any wrong-doing but a photograph published on an Internet page (www.nrk.no/vm98) appeared to vindicate the referee. David Will, the chairman of the World Cup referees committee told a news conference on Thursday: "The referee decided that the player of Norway was being held back by the jersey by the player of Brazil. "
Everyone says that from every angle there was no foul but there is a picture on the Internet which shows this exact incident."
Odd Kodefloss, a producer for Norwegian television who put the picture on the Internet, told Reuters: "The pictures were taken by a crew working for Swedish television SVT and show clearly that the referee made the right call.
"We think this is the first time a dispute like this has ever been solved by the Internet."
Norway won the match 2-1 after Kjetil Rekdal converted the penalty which ensured they qualified for the second round in place of Morocco, who beat Scotland 3-0 on the same night but were eliminated.
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