Merk rejects conflict of interest slurs

Euro 2004 final referee Markus Merk angrily rejected claims that his 30-year acquaintance with Greece coach Otto Rehhagel could be considered by some as a conflict of interests ahead of Greece’s final showdown with Portugal at the Estadio da Luz tomorrow.

Rehhagel has known Merk since he (Rehhagel) was still playing at Kaiserslautern and Merk, who lived with his parents just 300 metres from the Fritz-Walter Stadion, was still at school while Merk is also reported to be his family dentist.