As the World Cup entered its second week, events off the field seemed determined to influence those on it

By BILL SAPORITO /PARIS

ouge was all the rage at the World Cup in France last week. That's red as in blood, which ran in the streets and on the beaches of Marseilles. That's red as in red-faced, as the host nation continues to be hit by ticket distribution scams. That's red as in red cards, which are now being displayed with the regularity that FIFA promised at the beginning of the tournament. Events off the pitch are steadily intruding upon those on it. While much of the football has been a goalfest of entertainment, the dismissal of players can bring skewed results and affect which teams make the second round.

England, much to France's regret, is not likely to be among the early departures after its troubled victory over Tunisia. When Alan Shearer's crisp header into the Tunisian net at the Velodrome in Marseilles gave England a 1-0 lead, it was answered swiftly by a less precise but far more damaging volley of bottles on the nearby beach where English, Tunisian and French fans had gathered to watch the match on a big screen. The violence on the beach had been foreshadowed by a night of rioting in the center of the city which saw dozens arrested--most of them English--and left 13 in hospital. Footage of the clashes, beamed around the world, updated the cliche of English hooliganism.

French authorities vowed to intervene quickly if trouble erupts on the next stop of the English invasion, Toulouse, where England faces a lackluster Romania on Monday, and for Friday's match against Colombia at Lens. They were slow to move in Marseilles. "The error we made was not to want to give the image of Marseilles as a city under siege," said Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin. "With these people, you must take the initiative. Afterward, it's nearly impossible."

Although the French could blame the problems in Marseilles on foreigners, the continuing embarrassment of ticket distribution is as local as the cheese. Police arrested two Frenchmen in connection with what they say is an international scam that has left as many as 30,000 fans without the tickets they had paid for in advance. The police arrested Marc Loison, 46, director-general of International Sport Leisure-France, the French subsidiary of Swiss-based I.S.L. Worldwide, which has exclusive worldwide marketing rights to the World Cup, and Gilles Favard, 46, a bankrupt businessman who had been hired by I.S.L.-France as an independent consultant. In addition to reportedly funnelling tickets into the black market for Loison, Favard apparently ran his own rogue operation, using I.S.L. stationery and fax machines to sell nonexistent tickets.

The victims included many Japanese fans, who could be seen at various venues holding signs reading cherche billets. They could be joined outside the stadium by legions of players if last week's decision-making continues to prevail. The red tide on the playing field began to rise Wednesday, a week later than had been expected. Players and coaches had feared that the first half-dozen games would produce contests ending in seven a side, because FIFA had warned that a new rule against tackling from behind would be strictly enforced. That didn't happen initially: the refs weren't interested, and the fullbacks seemed to allow for an extra margin of safety on their tackles.

But last week, incoming FIFA boss Sepp Blatter was backed by French demi-god and organizing committee co-president Michel Platini, who as a player had been hacked regularly, in calling for more stringent application of the new rule against tackles from behind. Almost immediately the referees became card sharks, sending off players for what looked, in the replays, like unintentional tanglings rather than professional fouls. Referee John Jairo Toro of Colombia, who seemed think the fans had paid to see him perform instead of Denmark and South Africa, sent off three players and presided over a desultory 1-1 draw. The night before, Cameroon's Raymond Kalla Nkongo was given the gate, and Italy cruised to a 3-0 victory. Kalla Nkongo said it was his first red card ever. Fumed teammate Samuel Eto'o: "He didn't deserve a red card. The player had possession of the ball. Yesterday the same foul against Ronaldo only resulted in a yellow card."

On Thursday night Platini's vigilance cost France its maestro. Zinedine Zidane, a midfielder with surgical passing skills, was sent packing in the 70th minute for trying to make an incision on Saudi captain Fuad Amin with his right boot. After the game, Platini admitted that the refs had gone overboard, and needed to rebalance the gravity of their calls. After ten days of competition a total of nine players had been sent off. Their World Cup dreams have been shattered, along with the hopes of their teams and the fans back home.

However, amid the controversy it's clear the tournament's big fish have had little trouble dispatching its minnows. Seven goals and two clean sheets have already seen France safely through to the second round. Brazil is clearly beginning to enjoy the tournament and the party atmosphere of their match in Nantes against a lively Moroccan side was a vast difference from the unpleasantness in Marseilles. "It was a real pleasure to play this match tonight," said Ronaldo the Phenomenon who scored the first of three Brazilian goals in the 9th minute. "We made some good passes, and the atmosphere within the team was really good."

By Friday it seemed as though both players and referees were adjusting as Nigeria advanced to the second round with a match against Bulgaria which finished 1-0 without incident. But Mr. Blatter hasn't been heard from recently and any team that wants to test his mettle is welcome. At least for the moment it's referee roulette in the World Cup and teams are still praying that red doesn't come up.

--With Reporting by Thomas Sancton /Paris

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