Riley afraid to give penalty, claims Pahars

LATVIA striker Marian Pahars claimed that English referee Mike Riley did not award a penalty against Germany in the goalless draw between the Group D rivals because he was overawed by the occasion.

Maris Verpakovskis produced one of the highlights of the tournament in the first half when he received the ball with his back to goal in the centre circle and beat Christian Worns and Frank Baumann before sprinting goalwards. However Oliver Kahn made a fine save.

However, in the second half there was controversy when Latvia were twice denied penalty claims by Riley for 'fouls' on Verpakovskis, the first of which looked a particularly strong case.

Pahars said: "I think one (of the incidents) was a clear penalty but I think because I play in England I was not surprised. They never give penalties like that in England. Germany are a big side and maybe the referee was a little afraid he could have done something incredible."