A Uruguayan referee team led by Jorge Larrionda was in charge of the England v Germany match when Lampard's shot clearly crossed the line but no goal was given.

FIFA announced today that Portugal official Olegario Benquerenca will take charge of the Uruguay v Ghana quarter-final and insisted there was no question - as has been rumoured - that Webb, who has not been given a last-eight match, had originally been earmarked for the match.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said: "It seems every time there is a slight coincidence of any sort we start to dramatise things.

"We have nothing to do with refereeing - they are like a player and they can do well or do badly, we don't have any suspicions, it does not exist as far as we are concerned.

"I don't know if my players even know who the referee is. I presume the four officials we will have will be great candidates for the final."

Ghana's coach Milovan Rajevac added: "I pay no attention to who will be our referee - it's the highest level of competition and the referee will be of the highest level. After a match I never make comments about the referee so I'm not even thinking about it."

Uruguay only qualified for the finals through a play-off but have been one of the surprises of the tournament under their vastly experienced 63-year-old coach Tabarez, known to all as 'Maestro'.

Reaching the semi-finals would be the best achievement by the first winners of the World Cup - Uruguay triumphed in 1930 and then again in 1950 - since 1970, but Tabarez has warned against looking back at past glories.

He added: "I don't want to look back and talk about the historical dimension - anything that involves thinking beyond tomorrow makes us lose concentration. Perhaps later on we will be able to talk about the historical significance.

"First we have to play this quarter-final against Ghana and they are very strong, with very fast players with good dribbling skills.

"Ghana are getting closer to elite competition and I think they will continue to improve."

Uruguay share the best defensive record in the World Cup so far having conceded just one goal - in their 2-1 win over South Korea in the last 16.

They also have two of the most impressive strikers in Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan, described by Ghana'sAsamoah Gyan as the best in the tournament.

Tabarez insists there is no extra burden on his strikers however.

He added: "We want them to play as part of the team and for everyone to give their best. We have prepared well but we are not giving anyone any specific responsibility. If we want to make our dreams come true they will all have to play very well."