World Cup quarter-final ends in ugly scenes

Members of both the German and Argentina squads, including German head coach Juergen Klinsmann(R) and German team mamager Oliver Bierhoff(2nd R), get involved in a scuffle after Germany's victory in a penalty shootout at the end of the quarter-final World Cup football match between Germany and Argentina in Berlin.

Germany's penalty shootout victory over Argentina in the World Cup quarter-final ended in an on-pitch confrontation between German and Argentinian players.

Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said the ugly scenes had been sparked when German defender Per Mertesacker was kicked after the shootout, apparently by Argentinian defender Leandro Cufre.

"I saw Per Mertesacker fall to the ground," Bierhoff said.

Bierhoff was shown in the midst of a melee of players on the pitch at Berlin's Olympic Stadium and Argentinian defender Gabriel Heinze appeared to try to confront him.

"I was just trying to get in between the players," Bierhoff said. "I didn't want any of them to get in trouble and then be suspended.

"It is a pity. The fans in Germany have shown that they can interact in a friendly way, so players and team officials should set an example."

German midfielder Torsten Frings said: "They gave us a few kicks. Argentina are unfair and can be bad losers."

Cufre was shown a red card by Slovak referee Lubos Michel for unsporting behaviour for his part in the melee.

FIFA said it would look into the incident but declined to say whether disciplinary action could be taken.

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman played down the scenes, saying: "I think it was a spontaneous situation arising from a very emotional moment."