WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : Spotlight : TIME TO CUT OFF ‘PLAY ON’ CALLS

International soccer officials said Wednesday they were unhappy with some of the officiating at World Cup ‘94, and threatened to release referees who have been sub-par.

Although he refused to identify any referees, Joseph Blatter, general secretary of FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, said a few of the first 13 matches were poorly officiated, among them Tuesday’s Argentina-Greece game in Foxboro, Mass. The referee there was Arturo Angeles of Temple City in his World Cup debut.

Blatter said FIFA was disappointed by the lack of fouls for tackling from behind, and the roughness in guarding such stars as Diego Maradona of Argentina, Roberto Baggio of Italy and Romario of Brazil.

A review by FIFA’s officiating council is expected to be completed this morning in Irving, Tex., but results will not be announced until Monday. Any referee deemed below par will be barred from calling any more games.