AFP/Sao Paulo

An international storm of controversy hit Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura on Friday after he gave a bitterly contested penalty that set Brazil on the way to victory over Croatia in the World Cup opening game.
Global governing body FIFA defended Nishimura. But it also faced questions over the state of the pitch to be used for the key England-Italy clash in Manaus on Saturday.
Croatia's coach and players erupted in fury at Nishimura's decision to award a penalty against defender Dejan Lovren for a foul on Brazilian centre forward Fred on Thursday night.
Television replays indicated that Lovren barely touched Fred.
Croatian media called it an "inexcusable mistake". A top Brazilian newspaper used a front page headline "arigato" -- thank you in Japanese. Social media in Japan lambasted Nishimura's action, while World Cup players said that more and more of their counterparts would try to get away with such penalties.
The game was deadlocked 1-1 in the 70th minute when the ball went to Fred in the penalty area. He had his back to the goal and went to the ground with Lovren immediately behind.
"Two billion people I think saw that it was not a penalty. I didn't touch him," said Lovren, a centre back with English Premier League side Southampton.
"We're really disappointed but what can you do against 12 players? You can't do anything," he added.
"If that's a penalty, we don't need to play football anymore. Let's play basketball instead," declared Croatia's coach Niko Kovac.
Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari backed Nishimura. "For me it was a penalty. I have seen it 10 times now and I think it was a penalty," he said.
Neymar converted the penalty, one of two goals the 22-year-old star striker scored, and Brazil went on to score a late goal to round off the win.
FIFA defended Nishimura, but it said no decision had been taken as to whether he will appear in another match at the tournament.
FIFA referees chief Massimo Busacca insisted Nishimura had been justified in awarding the spot-kick.
"He had a very good position," said Busacca, referring to a photo of the incident which appeared to show Lovren's hands making contact with Fred.  
"When he saw the hands doing something he makes it (the decision), Busacca told a press conference.  
"If you play with the hands outside, If you make a contact, you permit the referee to go in one direction."
Busacca said the governing body would complete its analysis of the match before deciding whether Nishimura would control further matches.
The result put Brazil in control of Group A at the World Cup despite a performance below the standards expected of the tournament favourites.
Other players said the Brazilian centre forward had a role in the referee's apparent mistake.
"Fred plays the trick well," said France's striker Loic Remy, who knows Fred from their time at French side Lyon together. "He threw himself (to the ground) at the right moment, even though there was no foul," Remy told a French team press conference.
"He has experience in this. In this kind of foul, the attacker should be sanctioned. But in the end you ride your luck. If you are not caught, it is all profits," Remy said.
Nishimura, 42, has twice been voted referee of the year in Japan's J-League and was at the 2010 World Cup finals. But he has a reputation for controversial decisions.
"Oh dear, if Brazil win the World Cup the whole world will say Nishimura was the MVP (most valuable player)," said one Twitter commentator, @tonbuhin.