The competition was held with an elimination system of three or four wrestlers in each pool, with the winners qualifying for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final by way of direct elimination.
Pelle Svensson, a former two-time world champion (Greco-Roman 100 kg class) and member of the board of FILA from 1990 to 2007, has described FILA as an inherently corrupt organization.[1] During the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Svensson served as chairman of the disciplinary committee of FILA.[1] As he was watching the final in the men's Greco-Roman wrestling 84 kg class between Aleksey Mishin from Russia and Ara Abrahamian from Sweden, Svensson witnessed how the Russian team leader Mikhail Mamiashvili was giving signs to the referee.[1] When Svensson approached him and informed him that this was not allowed according to the rules, Mamiashvili responded by saying: "you should know that this may lead to your death".[1] Svensson later found proof that the Romanian referee was bribed (according to Svensson the referee had received over one million Swedish krona).[1]
Mohamed Abdelfatah was ejected from the competition for unsportsmanlike conduct following his protest after the end of his quarterfinal bout against Makaranka.