EAST RUTHERFORD. July 6: Syrian referee Jamal Al-Sharlf was accused of bias by Bulgarian contain

Borislav Mihailov following his aide s dramatic World Cup win over Mexico on Tuesday, reports Reuter

After his two penalty shootout saves had helped to earn Bulgaria a place tn the last eight for the first time Mihailov criticised Sharif who issued 10 yellow cards, sent off two players and awarded Mexico a debatable penalty

We thought the referee was biased by the presence of 70.000 Mexicans in the crowd.' said Mihailov "I have to assure you there was no penalty and the expulsion of our player was unjustified.

The disputed penally was awarded >n the 18th minute after Emil Kremenliev tangled with Luis Alves Zague. and the same Bulgarian defender was dismissed early in the second half for his second bookable of fence.

I was very surprised I don t think he used good

judgement, said Kremenliev. "He made a lot of mistakes."

Sharif also sent off Mexico's Luis Garcia soon afterwards, forcing both side's Id play for more than an hour with 10 men as the match spilled over into extra time. In three matches at the tournament.

the official has booked a total of 19 players.

Mexican coach Miguel Mejia Baron refused to enter the debate. "I have never questioned referees before and this Is not the time to start doing It." he said.

Mihailov, who saved penalties from Marcelino Bernal and Jorge Rodriguez after Alberto Garcia had put his first shot over the bar. described the moment of victory as "the hap plest of my life.

This Is the greatest sue cess ever for Bulgarian soccer, tactically we played it the best possible way.

'I felt very confident throughout the match and I was almost looking forward to the penalty kicks. I didn’t have any particular strategy I was just looking at the foot of the player taking the kicks

The result was a particular disappointment for Mexico's flamboyant goalkeeper Jorge Campos who made a brilliant save from Bulgaria's first penalty by Krasimir Balakov

He lay slumped In his goal mouth tor a long time after Yordan Lechkov converted his spot kick to seal the fate of the match He was on his fret to be consoled by Bulgarian goal scorer Hristo Stolchkov