The bout, between Japan's Shinichi Shinohara and the Frenchman David Douillet was decided in the latter's favour on points. Japan's head coach Yasuhiro Yamashita immediately filed a complaint with the International Judo Federation, claiming that the referee Craig Monaghan had awarded the points wrongly. At the International Judo Federation in Seoul, South Korea, moreover, its president Yong Sung Park has received more than 1,000 emails railing against the decision. The French judo federation has also been hit, claiming it, too, has received hundreds.
Any player never hopes to lose due to such a cruel misjudgment.
If it was 10 years ago, we could nothing. But now we can do something. We should express our gratitude for the internet. Whether Craig Monaghan agrees remains to be seen.