DERDEPOORT, South Africa -- World Cup match officials have been a big success despite making mistakes in some games, FIFAs head of refereeing said on Saturday. Authentic Ray Rice Jersey. Jose-Marcia Garcia-Aranda said analysis of the first 62 matches showed that referees got more than 96 per cent of their decisions right. "It is a big success. We have to say it is not an opinion (but) facts," the Spanish official said at a news briefing. FIFA accepted that errors that were made, though in "only a few" matches. "We are not hiding our mistakes or the mistakes of the referees on the field of play," Garcia-Aranda said in a robust defence of FIFAs refereeing program. World Cup final referee Howard Webb agreed that mistakes had been made but said they were largely isolated. "There is no point us sitting here as match officials and saying everything is absolutely perfect," said the 38-year-old Englishman referee, who is one of the few professional referees among the 29 FIFA selected for World Cup duty. "But its also right point out that the vast majority of decisions have been very sound and very correct." Referees were widely criticized after a series of mistakes in the first half of the tournament. In the group stages, the United States was denied a likely winning goal late in its game against Slovenia, then a Brazil goal against Ivory Coast was allowed to stand despite two apparent handballs by Luis Fabiano in the lead-up play. Brazils Kaka was harshly sent off later in the same match. The pressure was stepped up after game-changing errors by assistant referees helped eliminate England and Mexico in the second round. FIFA will revisit proposals to introduce goal-line technology in response to England being denied a clear goal which would have levelled its match against Germany. Italian referee Roberto Rosetti has since retired, three years before reaching the mandatory age to step down from duty, after he missed an offside call that allowed Argentina to open the scoring against Mexico. FIFA did not award control of another match to any of the four referees involved in the main controversies. Garcia-Aranda said all the errors have been studied carefully. "We study as well in our daily briefings with the referees in order to improve their next performance," he said. Garcia-Aranda compared the referees 96 per cent accuracy rate favourably with the success of players taking penalties. Just nine of 15 spot kicks awarded during matches have been scored, for a 60 per cent accuracy rate. "I think the refereeing in this tournament has been more than good," Garcia-Aranda said. Jordy Nelson Jersey. This tournament may one day be remembered as a watershed moment for Asian tennis with two Chinese making the semi-finals for the first time, but a potential new world order was left on hold a little longer. Williams used all her power and big-match experience to beat Li Na 7-6 7-6 in an absorbing centre court contest to remain on course to defend the title she won for the fourth time last year. Rob Gronkowski Jersey. In an interview with The FAN 590, the five-time NBA All-Star denied that it was his desire for national television exposure in the United States that helped fuel his move south. Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey. Andrei Kirilenko added 22 points, five rebounds, and five steals for the Jazz, who have won the first three games of a four-game road trip that wraps up Sunday at Portland. Utah has won 12 of its last 13 games. Packers Williams Jersey. Chen was commenting on the yuan exchange rate issue for the second time since US lawmakers called on the Obama administration to step up pressure on China to let yuan strengthen. Related readings: US may tread softly on key currency issue Asias regional currency swap plan comes into effect US likely to label China currency manipulator US should look closer to home on currency issue It has been proved both in theory and practice that the appreciation of a nations currency provides little help for improving balance of payments, Chen said in a bylined article posted on the ministry website. Washington Redskins Cooley Jersey. So much for that. Thanks in large part to Montreal goaltender Jaroslav Halak and his shot-blocking teammates, Washingtons season is over far sooner than expected. We all feel as low as we can possibly feel, Boudreau said, and well meet in a day, and well discuss the shouldve-beens and couldve-beens at that particular time. 49ers Gore Jersey. The episode, which aired Wednesday night, is titled "Clown Box." Producers of the reality TV show have wasted little time depicting Yager as the Season 11 sandpaper. Oakland Raiders Janikowski Jersey. But the biggest challenge hes been involved in came when he arrived in southern California in the mid-1990s to join a franchise mired in bankruptcy. "The week before I come, the team trades Wayne Gretzky and then at our absolute low they say, ‘Hey, wouldnt this be a great job for you?" Leiweke recalled as a guest Thursday night on the "NHL Hour With Gary Bettman. San Francisco 49ers Michael Crabtree Jersey. Starting goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov came down with a case of the flu, leaving the team no time to call up a goaltender from their system who could get to Madison Square Garden for the 7 p. Tweet As soon as the reports started to surface Monday about Jason Arnott waiving his no-trade clause to go to Washington, pundits everywhere started crowing about how finally the Capitals landed their No. 2 center. A rental for sure, but Arnotts intangibles, including size, experience and skill make him the immediate plug for what has been a gaping hole in the Capitals lineup. Could he also be the missing piece in Washingtons quest for a Stanley Cup? While its too early to tell -- dont we have to let the guy at least play a game or two in his new uniform before we pass that kind of judgment? -- history suggests high-end center depth on your top two lines is an absolute must to win the Stanley Cup. "Based on two names, (Eric) Staal and (Rod) BrindAmour, if we didnt have either one of those guys we would not have won the Cup (in 06)," Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford told NHL.com. "You could put numbers on either of them, say hes a one and hes a two that could be a one, but the strength of those two guys not only their playing ability but their character, we would not have had a chance to win without them." Rutherford hit on something important by mentioning the interchangeable qualities of Staal or BrindAmour on that 06 championship team. Having center depth is essential to winning, but having two pivots that can play on the No. 1 line allows a team to go from contender to champion. Jason Arnott Center - WSH GOALS: 13 | ASST: 11 | PTS: 24 SOG: 139 | +/-: -9 "Its actually 1-2-3-4 right through the goalie, but definitely it starts with your one and two guys," Rutherford said. Chicago won the Cup last season with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp as its top two guys. Sharp took pressure off Toews and vice versa, and both allowed third-line center David Bolland to do what he does best in a checking role. Ditto for Pittsburgh in 2009 with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and then down to Jordan Staal. The Penguins center depth should make them a contender for years to come. And thats just two examples of many during the past three decades in the NHL. "(The Islanders) had Bryan Trottier and they hadnt had success in the playoffs, and now they get Butch Goring (in 1980) and you saw what happened," NHL Network analyst Craig Button told NHL.com. "Now lets go to one of the greatest players to ever play the game, Mario Lemieux. Well, the signature trade in their franchise was acquiring Ron Francis (in 1991)." Button wasnt done. He recalled the impetus of the trade that landed Joe Nieuwendyk in Dallas foor Jarome Iginla in December of 1995. Brian Cushing Jersey. The Stars already had Mike Modano, but the Stars management, including Button as the Director of Scouting, took a look around the Western Conference and noticed something glaring. NHL INSIDER Down the stretch: Sabres desperate Rick Sadowski - NHL.com Correspondant Tonights Rangers-Sabres game is important for both teams -- one battling to stay in the top eight, one fighting to get in. Thats not the only game with major playoff implications, however. READ MORE › Surging Blackhawks move into fifth in West Hawks scrambling at Deadline with D injuries Several teams gain ground in playoff race MORE NHL INSIDER STORIES › "Colorado had Sakic and Forsberg, and Detroit had Yzerman and Fedorov. We had Modano and he could go against one of them, but what do you do against the other -- close your eyes and hope it doesnt get ugly?" Button said. "You can not win without two good centermen. Look at Gretzky and Messier. I could just take you back to all the winners." Lets instead go back to the Arnott deal because, well, its in the here and now. Arnotts presence allows Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau to properly slot his players. For example, rookie center Marcus Johansson might one day be Washingtons No. 2 center behind Nicklas Backstrom, but for now he can move into the three-hole and play a much looser, pressure-free 13-14 minutes per game. Button cited teams such as Boston and Philadelphia and said theres no way the Capitals would beat them in the playoffs with Johansson as their No. 2. He said guys like Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Mike Richards and Danny Briere would "eat him alive." Lets not forget either about Tampa Bays duo of Steven Stamkos and Vinny Lecavalier. "When you get players slotted too high youre extending them and putting them in positions theyre not able to handle," Button added. "Its not that (Johansson) is not going to be a good player, hes not ready to do it now, not at that level of competition." The role should work for Arnott, too. He doesnt have to be the leading man because thats Backstroms job, so he can "just come in and play," Button said, while making players around him better and lending his size, skill and experience to the Capitals quest. "To me its a fit that is perfect for the Washington Capitals," Button said. "Very few times on trade deadline day can you say they nailed it, but I think they nailed it. I think the team is considerably improved from this time (Monday)." Follow Dan Rosen on Twitter at: @drosennhl ' ' '