It was too good to last.

A full week of fine World Cup action with the standard of refereeing earning universal praise.

But within hours of the tournament's top brass ordering refs to dish out red cards the competition became infected with them.

Yesterday's nap hand of red saw the men in the middle under fire from the lads on the sidelines on a day of controversy.

The BBC had their first team out last night - Monsieurs Lynam, Ginola, Hansen and Hill, lighting up the glorious Parisien skyline. Up the boulevard at St Denis, commentator John Motson (the master of the rhetorical question) and Chris Waddle looked on in amazement as a dramatic France v Saudi Arabia game unfurled.

A goal, a sending off, bookings, scores of missed chances and some wonderful approach play by the French, left the half-time panel with a lot on their plate to chew over.

But as the analytical debate got into full flow viewers were transported to a brassierie in Lyon run by Florian Maurice, a striker, who along with Ginola, missed out of World Cup selection.

In among the croissants lurked James Richardson, front man of Channel Four's 'Football Italia'. He's more at home in Italy behind cool shades tucking into ice cream and sipping cappuccino while reviewing Gazetta Del Sport.

This time he quizzed locals about the French performance, but none of them seemed to understand his questions and a couple of valuable minutes were totally lost in translation.

The embarrassment and confusion spread on the return to the studio, which, for a few moments, resembled a scene from a Harold Pinter play, complete with misunderstandings and pregnant pauses.

The BBC are winning their battle with ITV hands down, largely because they have the best panel. Having assembled such an experience, knowledgeable and stylish team they should be allowed to get on the ball at half-time without interference.

The Beeb gained another comfortable victory over ITV last night but, like the French, missed a big chance to post a huge score.

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