FIFA have denied reports that a list of English swear words has been distributed to World Cup officials.
The Brazilian match officials who take charge of England’s first match against the USA on Saturday revealed earlier this week that they had learned 20 swear words to ensure they are able to punish any player that verbally absuses them.
However, FIFA insist this is not something they have told the officials to undertake.
A FIFA spokeswoman said this morning: “No such list has been distributed to the referees.”
Assistant referee Altemir Hausmann, who will be one of the linesmen in Rustenburg, told Brazilian broadcaster Globo Sport: “We have to learn what kind of words the players say. All players swear and we know we will hear a few.”
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