BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil – Brazil is bristling at what it calls "ridiculous" suggestions in Chilean media that English referee Howard Webb could favor the home team in the two nations' round-of-16 match on Saturday.
Brazil team spokesman Rodrigo Paiva said such suggestions disrespect the Brazilian people.
He accused Chilean media of being "immature" and added: "This kind of pressure I think it's even ridiculous."
Fielding a question at a regular pre-match news conference on Friday with Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and captain Thiago Silva, Paiva said: "Brazil doesn't need a referee to win the match and you should respect a little bit more the Brazilian national team and the Brazilian people."
Webb also oversaw Brazil's 3-0 win against Chile at the same stage of the 2010 World Cup.
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