FIFA rebuked England yesterday for only taking questions from British television reporters in the pre-match briefing for the Germany game, which sparked resentment from foreign media who branded their camp as "arrogant".

FIFA rebuked England yesterday for only taking questions from British television reporters in the pre-match briefing for the Germany game, which sparked resentment from foreign media who branded their camp as "arrogant".

Soccer's world governing body also slammed Germany, whose coach did not attend their pre-match press conference on Saturday, ahead of yesterday afternoon's eagerly awaited World Cup round of 16 clash in Bloemfontein.

"Fair play applies not only on the pitch but also off the pitch and this applies also for press conferences," said Fifa spokesperson Nicolas Maingot.

Fifa guidelines say the coaches must hold a news briefing a day ahead of their matches. Even secretive North Korea's coach has taken questions from foreign media.

More than 250 journalists and 30 TV crews attended the England briefing on Saturday but were infuriated as the Football Association's head of media, Adrian Bevington, took only eight questions from hand-picked journalists.

Bevington said afterwards that he had fully complied with Fifa regulations and Maingot said there were no disciplinary provisions for such cases. - Reuters