Athens - The faulty judging of a Hungarian fencing referee, banned as a result from future Olympics, has sparked a spiral of recriminations involving China, an Italian sports minister and fencing's top international official.
Joszef Hidasi's six "serious errors" on Saturday in the men's team foil final between Italy and China - all of them in Italy's favour - are "damaging to the good reputation of our sport", the International Fencing Federation (FIE) said in a statement.
FIE officials made their announcement after reviewing the tape of the competition.
If only three of Hidasi's six mistakes had not occurred, the Chinese could have wound up with the gold rather than the Italians.
Referees in foil - which along with epee and sabre make up the fencing disciplines - have the power to award points on the basis of right of way, even when both fencers have been hit.
The fact that Italy was the sole benefactor of Hidasi's blunders has not gone unnoticed within the fencing world, and overheard remarks to this effect have prompted vehement protests from Italian Under-Secretary of Sports Mario Pescante.
"I was sitting very close to Rene Roch" - president of the FIE - "and I heard him say 'go figure how much the Italians paid the referee'," Pescante said. "Then, talking to the Chinese, he referred to 'the Italian cheaters'," he added.
Pescante described Roch's statements as "scandalous" and "unacceptable", and said he "is not worthy of being president of the Federation". He also pointed out that Roch is responsible for selecting referees.
Roch denies having said any of these things.
But not all of Hidasi's errors benefited the Italians, according to one competitor. After his defeat in the men's individual foil final - also judged by Hidasi - Italian fencer Salvatore Sanzo claims the Hungarian referee apologised privately for his mistakes.
"He apologised for the errors made at my expense," Sanzo told Italian journalists.
