FIFA president Sepp Blatter has criticised Russian referee Valentin Ivanov for his handling of Sunday's World Cup clash between Portugal and Holland.

Luis Felipe Scolari's side won the game 1-0 to set up a quarter-final match with England, but Blatter was more concerned with the four red and 16 yellow cards Ivanov produced in the ill-tempered game.

"I consider that the referee was not at the same level as the participants, the players. There could have been a yellow card for the referee," said Blatter.

"This was a game of emotion, with exceptional drama in the last instant, with a deserved winner.

"It was a great show with intervention by the referee that was not consistent and (had) lack of fair play by some players."

Holland coach Marco van Basten added: "I must say it was a pity that there was no football in the second half.

"The referee made a mess of it and Portugal used all their experience, all their tricks and time-wasting. We just couldn't play. It was chaos and it should not happen this way at a World Cup."