Career
A controversial decision resulted in Japan"s only goal, a decision which Australian media claimed that he later admitted was in error. agreed unanimously that Japan’s goal against Australia was correct," and would have awarded a penalty against Australia had the ball not gone in, as Takahara was pushed by Craig Moore into Schwarzer. Fédération internationale de football association communications director Markus Siegler told the press later that a penalty should have been awarded to Japan for a foul on Japanese midfielder Yūichi Komano by Tim Cahill. Siegler said "it was a clear mistake of the referee." Had a yellow card been shown to Cahill, who scored the deciding goal for Australia minutes later, he would have been sent off, with the score at 1-1.
The Japanese coach Zico expressed frustration at Fédération internationale de football association"s comments, saying that El Fahad had apologised for the mistake to the Australians but had not apologised for the error which Fédération internationale de football association admitted to
Japan Football Association filed an official complaint against the Egyptian referee, who was sent home along with English referee Graham Poll.