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Brazil rails at notion of World Cup referee bias

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BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) 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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