Sinclair (pictured top) faced being suspended for the bronze medal match with France tomorrow night at the City of Coventry Stadium, after verbally attacking the Norwegian referee following the US' 4-3 victory over Canada in the semi-final at Manchester's Old Trafford on Monday (August 6).

Coach John Herdman and forward Melissa Tancredi were also potentially under scrutiny after they too criticised Pedersen.

They were infuriated with the way in which the United States grabbed a crucial third equaliser to make the score 3-3 in normal time on Monday.

The US were awarded a free kick after goalkeeper Erin McLeod held the ball for more than six seconds before releasing it.

Although this is against the laws, it is not common for a free kick to be given as a punishment.

Norweigan referee Christian Pedersen motions during the close semi-final


Teams in men's football frequently take their time over goal kicks, with goalkeepers tending to accept the usual yellow card they are given as a result in order to slow the game down.

Following the free kick the US were awarded a penalty, subsequently converted by Abby Wambach, when the ball struck the hand of Marie-Eve Nault.

"We feel cheated," Sinclair said afterwards.

"It's a shame that in a game as important as that, the ref decided the result before it started."

Tancredi added: "She [Pedersen] could have done a better job.

"We're supposed to be professionals and they should act like one too...I feel robbed," she said, before adding that she hoped the referee could "sleep tonight and put on your American jersey, because that is who you played for today."

While Herdman had said: "It felt like it was America and the referee against [us].

"She'll have to sleep in bed tonight after watching the replays; she's got that to live with.

"We'll move on from this, I wonder if she'll be able to."

US forward Abby Wambach scores a penalty past Canada's goalkeeper Erin Mcleod after a hand ball from Canada's Marie-Eve Nault

FIFA had announced it would look into incidents after the match, but today said in a statement that: "In view of the elements currently at its disposal, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee considers that further investigation will be needed regarding incidents that occurred after the conclusion of the match between Canada and the U.S.A. on 6 August at Old Trafford.

"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is therefore not in a position to take any decision at present.

"Further information will be provided in due course, but not prior to the bronze medal match between Canada and France on 9 August."

International Olympic Committee (IOC) communications chief Mark Adams refused to comment on the specific issue at this morning's press briefing here, but did add that "I think we have to be grown up about sport - it does bring up strong emotions."

Speaking here today ahead of the Olympic final with Japan, Wambach, who had pressured the referee to take action against McLeod for time wasting, insisted that "what is done is done".

She added: "I cannot speak for the referee and why she chose to do that.

"Our focus is on the gold medal game, we do not care about how we got here."

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