LONDON: The one discordant note of a dramatically entertaining Olympic women’s football final at Wembley went unnoticed by Games organisers.

A comparatively gentle – but audible – chorus of booing erupted when the name of FIFA president Sepp Blatter was announced to the crowd as a member of the medals presentation party after the United States’ 2-1 victory over Japan.

In fact, Blatter’s appearance in the troupe – along with Lydia Nsekera, new FIFA exco ‘arrival’ and fellow IOC member – went unremarked by a crowd focusing then on acknowledging the players from the US, Japan and bronze medal winners Canada.

On being asked about the incident LOCOG chair Lord Seb Coe, first chairman of the FIFA ethics committee on its creation in2006,  said: ” Sorry, I’m completely unaware of that . . . we really didn’t see it.”

Blatter has become used to unfavourable receptions from European crowds, all of whom have their own domestic agendas where the world federation and its leadership are concerned.

KEIR RADNEDGE

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