Cech told referee not to book Ghana player

COLOGNE, June 17 (Reuters) Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech tried to prevent Ghana's Asamoah Gyan being booked for taking a penalty too soon by telling the referee a fan had fooled the striker by blowing a whistle in the stands.

''That's why he took the penalty because somebody blew the whistle,'' Cech told reporters.

''He was not guilty for that (taking the penalty early) because somebody whistled him.'' Gyan received the card anyway and will miss Ghana's next match against the United States because of a previous booking.

He converted the first kick but the ref ruled it out because he had not blown for it and Gyan struck the post with the 65th minute re-take.

Ghana beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in the Group E match and it was thanks to Cech that the defeat was not heavier.

He said the last time he had played a game where he had faced so many shots was a schoolboy match.

''I think I played one game like this 10 years ago when we lost 9-2,'' Cech said. ''The boys were five years older than us.'' Reuters PDS RAI0133