BLIND FANS LISTEN TO THE ACTION Two commentators sat in a broadcast booth at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium, put on their mics and looked down at the pitch before narrating a World Cup game for an exclusive audience.

As the teams arrived, they began giving detailed descriptions to a group of people sitting in the stands. All were blind and visually-impaired fans listening through

short-range radio signals on their smartphones.

For the first time in a World Cup, the sport's governing body, FIFA set up the special audio system at stadiums with the assistance of Urece, a Brazilian non-govemmental group that provides services to the blind.

"You must accurately describe everything: The atmosphere in the stands, the physical appearance of the players, their kits, the

colours, me images oroaacast on giani screens, ’ said commentator Eduardo Butter, a 23-year-old journalist

Some 6.5 million people are visually impaired in the country of200 million, and many share Brazil's passion for football, attending club games with relatives or guides who describe the action.

FIFA SILENCES BRAZIL SPOKESMAN FIFA on Saturday banned Brazil's team spokesman for three matches for hitting a Chilean player during their countries' World Cup match.

The media specialist, Rodrigo Paiva, hit Chilean player Mauricio Pinilla in the stadium tunnel at half time in the last 16 match last Saturday.

Paiva was banned for three matches, with a fourth match suspended fortwo years, and fined 10,000 Swiss francs (11,180 dollars/ 8,200euros), the world governing body announced.

One match ot the ban has already been served, but the action means that Paiva will not be allowed into the rest of the World Cup, even if the hosts reach the final.

Chile's media spokesman Maria lose said his Brazilian counterpart 'hit'' Pinilla. Paiva told Brazilian media there was shoving by both sides as the two teams left the field.

UZBEK REF SETS NEW RECORD

Uzbekistan referee Ravshan

Irmatov made football history on Saturday when he took charge of a record ninth World Cup game, the quarterfinal between Netherlands and Costa Rica.

Before Saturday he held the record on eight with France's Joel Quiniou, Jorge Larrionda of Uruguay and Mexico’s Benito Archundia (Mexico).

This was his fourth run out in Brazil.

The 36-year-old's first World Cup game was the 2010 opening fixture between hosts south Africa and Mexico.