South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira slammed referee Massimo Busacca after seeing Bafana Bafana's hopes of making the last 16 of the World Cup suffer a blow with a 3-0 defeat to Uruguay.

Uruguay took a first-half lead through Diego Forlan, who then doubled his side's advantage from the penalty spot 10 minutes from time after an incident which saw home goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune sent off. Alvaro Pereira then wrapped up the victory for Uruguay with a third goal in stoppage time.

"I haven't seen it (the red card incident) properly because there were some players in the way, (but) the players are really annoyed, very angry and very disappointed in the referee," said Parreira.

"Myself and everyone else said it was the worst referring performance in this competition so far.

"He was very unfair against our team from the very beginning, the way he acted against our team.

"He was giving fouls that weren't fouls, giving yellows that weren't yelllows and then he left the ground with a smile on his face.

"I hope we don't see his face again in this tournament because he doesn't deserve to be here."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez took a different view on proceedings, though, insisting his side deserved victory.

"I certainly can't agree and I even laugh at the suggestion that Uruguay maybe won this game thanks to the referee, because I think we dominated the game throughout," said Tabarez.

"But I didn't come to the press conference for that, I'm not here to talk about the referee or discuss my colleague's opinions, but in my view Uruguay won the game deservedly."