Portugal appeal Deco red

The Barcelona playmaker was dismissed for two yellow cards, the second considered to be harsh after Deco was adjudged to have prevented the restart by picking up the ball after fouling Philip Cocu.

Dutch midfielder Cocu appeared to subsequently throw Deco to the ground, yet it was Deco who was booked.

The first had been issued after Portugal failed to contest a drop-ball yet the Dutch played on, Deco then crudely hacking down John Heitinga, an offence for which he arugably could have been sent-off.

Portugal's Brazilian coach Luis Felipe Scolari criticised Russian referee Valentin Ivanov for his performance in the match.

"We accept that we made some disciplinary mistakes, but we cannot accept in any way the red card for Deco," he said.

"The Portuguese Football Federation, on the basis of the FIFA Fair Play documents, will put in a request to overturn the card for Deco," he added.

Portugal play England in the quarter-finals on Saturday 1st July, and will be without midfielder Costinha, who was also sent-off against the Netherlands, although Luis Figo is free to play after FIFA confirmed that he will not face further action after appearing to head-butt Mark van Bommel.