Dunga brands Kaka red card ´totally unjustified´

Brazil coach Dunga insisted the controversial dismissal of star midfielder Kaka was ‘totally unjustified’ as the five-time world champions beat the Ivory Coast 3-1 to reach the World Cup last 16 on Sunday.

Kaka was sent off for a second yellow card in the final minutes for pushing Abdelkader Keita, but the Ivorian wildly exaggerated the impact of the shove by falling to the ground, dramatically clutching his face.

Having earlier picked up a yellow card for a push on Yaya Toure on 85 minutes, Kaka was shown red three minutes later when Keita ran into the Brazilian, who was looking the other way.

“I won’t make any comment about the red card,” fumed Kaka after the game.

“I think all of you saw the image and everything else, so I have nothing further to say. The images are there for all to see and you are able to see what really happened.”

Dunga was left almost speechless by the sending off which now sees the Real Madrid star suspended for the final Group G match against Portugal in Durban on Friday.

“It was a totally unjustified dismissal of Kaka, he was fouled and yet he was punished. The player who commits the foul escapes the yellow card, I have to congratulate him for that,” said Dunga.

“We are left a bit in doubt, what do we have to do in order not to receive these yellow cards?

“We are not sure who will replace Kaka for the next game, we will think about it over the next few days.”

Brazil booked their place in the knock-out phase thanks to goals either side of half-time by Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano, on 25 and 52 minutes, and Galatasary’s Elano, who converted a Kaka cross on 62 minutes.

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba scored a late consolation goal for the Elephants.

Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson felt the second yellow card against Kaka was warranted and said the Brazilians should not complain after there was more than a hint of handball in Luis Fabiano’s second goal.

“I heard Brazil complain a lot, but I don’t think they should, it is extra difficult when Fabiano is allowed to use his hands. It was not just once, it was twice,” said the Swede.

“They were allowed to take a two-goal lead and that changed everything.”

But former England boss Eriksson feels Brazil have the mark of potential world champions.

“I think the Brazil team can go all the way, they have quality especially in defence,” he said.

“You need to be almost perfect to beat Brazil. In every way they are good, they are very good.”