SEOUL, June 6: Turkey have expressed concern to FIFA over whether African referee Coffi Codjia has the big match experience to officiate in Sunday’s group C match against Costa Rica.

They feel that refereeing errors by South Korean official Kim Young Joo cost them a point in Monday’s 2-1 loss to Brazil and have expressed concern about the referee from the tiny West African state of Benin.

“Is there professionalism in Benin? It’s really not clear,” said Haluk Ulusoy, chairman of the Turkish soccer federation.

Two key Turkish players will be suspended against Costa Rica due to red cards earned against Brazil and they have sought assurances from FIFA that Codjia would be up to running the game, which is crucial to Turkey’s hopes of reaching the second round.

“It was not a formal application, but we spoke to them and they said things would be better from now on,” Turkish spokesman Can Cobanoglu said on Thursday.

FIFA communications director Keith Cooper said he was unaware of the request, but told a news conference in Seoul: “FIFA is not in the habit of making changes of that kind (to the referee).

“The referees are appointed on the recommendation of their confederation — in this case CAF (Africa’s governing body).”

Meanwhile, Turkey coach Senol Gunes says he has closed the book on Monday’s controversial match, which earned Brazil forward Rivaldo a FIFA fine for feigning injury, and is looking ahead to the Costa Rica match.

“Even if we had won the Brazil game we had always looked at Costa Rica as the most important match. Even if Costa Rica aren’t Brazil, they are experienced and a good team,” Gunes said.—Reuters