Northern Eire supervisor Kenny Shiels described UEFA’s determination to nominate a Nordic referee for his aspect’s Euro 2022 conflict with Norway as a “boo-boo” following a 4-1 thrashing in Southampton.
Throughout a weird post-match press convention, Shiels appeared to take situation with Finnish official Lina Lehtovaara awarding the Norwegians a first-half penalty after being alerted to Nadene Caldwell’s handball by VAR.
The 66-year-old accepted the choice to offer the spot-kick, transformed by Caroline Graham Hansen to make it 3-0, “in all probability” was appropriate however nonetheless questioned Lehtovaara’s suitability for the Group A fixture.
Requested to make clear his peculiar grievance, he later dismissed the issues as a “passing remark”, telling reporters “don’t fear about it”.
“We made errors, we have been 2-0 down after which they get a penalty the place the ball hits the participant within the higher arm and the Nordic referee, who was refereeing a recreation involving a Nordic crew, gave the penalty,” mentioned Shiels.
“However I don’t for one minute say it was as a result of she was the referee. I’m simply saying these statistics have been there and it made it actually exhausting for her to referee and UEFA are very exact and so they inform you what to do and they’re so actual that I feel that was a boo-boo.
“However most referees underneath the brand new ruling would in all probability have given it anyway however I’m simply saying that it was powerful for us.”
Requested straight whether or not Lehtovaara was an unsuitable choice, he replied: “I’m not blaming that for our defeat by any stretch however I’m simply saying I don’t suppose we should always speak an excessive amount of about that as a result of it’s a aspect occasion.
“I’m simply speaking to you as folks; folks with the identical sorts of emotions that all of us have.
“It’s not a giant factor, it’s only a passing remark, so don’t fear about it.”
Hansen’s penalty added to early strikes from Julie Blakstad and Frida Maanum earlier than Guro Reiten’s free-kick ensured Northern Eire’s first look at a serious match would finish in defeat following Julie Nelson’s comfort.
Simone Magill was compelled off with an harm (Nigel French/PA)
(PA Wire)
A tough night for the competitors’s lowest-ranked aspect was compounded by ahead Simone Magill leaving the sphere in tears resulting from a knee harm, with Shiels fearing the worst.
“Our ideas are targeted on Simone Magill,” he mentioned.
“It’s her knee. I’m a soccer coach, not a health care provider however I don’t suppose the indicators are good.”
Norway – winners of this competitors in 1987 and 1993 – moved degree on factors with hosts England after outclassing Shiels’ underdogs.
Caroline Graham Hansen (proper) scored Norway’s third objective (Nigel French/PA)
(PA Wire)
Participant of the match Hansen was relieved to make a profitable begin following painful reminiscences of Norway’s dismal European Championship marketing campaign 5 years in the past.
“The final Euros was a catastrophe for us, we didn’t even rating a objective, we went house after the group stage, so to have the ability to bounce again and get a great begin was essential for everybody” mentioned the 27-year-old Barcelona star.
“I feel everyone who was there in 2017 felt the reduction at present after we scored the primary objective.
“It’s only a pity in the long run we didn’t get one or two extra on the scoresheet as a result of I feel we deserved that but when every part was excellent within the opening recreation, it could be too good to be true so it’s regular that we have now some stuff to work on.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
