Sergei Khusainov, one of the Russian officials due to officiate at Thursday's UEFA Cup match in Israel but promptly replaced by the European game's ruling body, has denied any wrongdoing. Khusianov said yesterday that he could not discover all the circumstances of the case because the UEFA delegate at the match advised him to keep silent.

However, he said provocative reports by the Israeli press were the only reason for UEFA's decision. Khusainov said he and his three assistants were not suspended by the UEFA delegate, who decided to replace them only to avoid further provocations after local press reports.

Israeli press reported that when Khusainov and his three assistants arrived from Moscow they had clearly been drinking.

When they left the plane they began embracing female customs officials as well as singing and dancing, local press reported. They carried on in much the same vein in a Tel Aviv restaurant.

Khusainov said newspapers in Israel also pointed out that he was an "unlucky referee", referring to Khusainov's officiating at a 1994 World Cup qualifier match in which Israel lost 5-0 to Sweden.