The Russians are clearly not happy about their exit from this year's World Cup, and it was obvious why. The Guardian reported that Russian national team manager Fabio Capello had blamed the green laser beam flashed from the stadium crowd on goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev as the reason for their 1-1 draw against the Algerians and their subsequent elimination from the tournament.
Capello said that ahead of the vital goal made by Islam Slimani of Algeria on the game's 60th minute, someone in the rowd used a green laser pen on Akinfeev purportedly to distract him from defending his post. Still photographs and television images obtained by The Verge showed at one point Akinfeev complaining about the green laser beam directed towards his face and body while awaiting for a free kick. Akinfeev appeared to be hit with the green laser beam again near the eye as he meets the cross, misjudging a leap towards the ball and leaving his post exposed.
Capello insisted that his goalkeeper was blinded by the beam, but the tech blog said it was difficult how much the goalkeeper was affected considering the fact that the Russian did not blink or wince when it flashed on his face.
"There are pictures. You can see that in the footage. This not an excuse, it is a fact. There was a laser. I have never come up with excuses to get by in my entire life... You have to listen to when I speak so that I don't have to repeat the same things: I said very clearly that I have great respect for Algerian team. I just said that very clearly! The only thing is that we had a chance to score another goal and instead we conceded a goal, as I think you saw," Capello told the Guardian.
It has been known that green laser beams could be dangerous for human visions, as the lasers are created using infrared light invisible to the human eye. Citing a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Maryland, the Verge said cheaper laser pointers kick out 10 times more infrared ray light than green light, which means that it is enough to damage the eye before a blink response.
Although FIFA has already banned laser pointers in tournament venues, it appears that at least one managed to go through pass stadium security.
It is not known whether Russia will pursue a complaint to FIFA.
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