Mexican referee Arturo Brizio Carter came into France '98 as the most feared referee on the World Cup list. And after the Holland-Argentina quarter-final clash in Marseille on Saturday night he had set a new record for sendings-off. Before the match Carter had a joint record five sendings-off to his name, collected during his appearances at USA 1994 and France 98's group matches.

When Holland's Arthur Numan and Argentina's Ariel Ortega were sent packing on Saturday he had taken his record to seven explusions - in only six World Cup matches. Carter, a 42-year-old lawyer, showed he would take no nonsense when he dismissed Zinedine Zidane for stamping and Saudi Arabian Mohammed al-Khilaiwi in a Group C match.

On Saturday, Numan was dispatched to the dressing room after collecting his second yellow. Ortega got his red card for head-butting Dutch keeper Edwin van Der Sar.

But FIFA firmly stood by Carter on Sunday. "He just happens to be that he was in the rightplace at the right time or in the wrong place at the wrong time however you want to look at it," said FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper. "That is his decision. We will stand by it," he added.