Reports are emerging from Armenia that some in the country believe last night’s referee was instructed to let Ireland win.
PanArmenian.net are carrying a story that claims that the chairman of the Armenian community of Slovakia Ashot Grigoryan was visited by members of the Slovakian FA on Monday to warn him that Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez was instructed to favour Ireland as compensation for the manner in which Ireland lost out to France in the infamous 2009 play-off.
During last night’s game the referee was a little erratic but he did dismiss a player from both teams and he seemed to give bad decisions in equal fashion to both teams.
The website has even mocked up a picture of Gonzalez with his head under a banned sign, indicating their great displeasure at the manner of his performance.
Now we here in Ireland can empathise with their mood, as we took against Sweden’s Martin Hansson pretty badly after he didn’t spot Thierry Henry’s double handball in Paris.
Armenian forward Yura Movsisyan, speaking after the game, did bring up that fateful night in Paris too. “Considering what happened to Ireland with [Thierry] Henry, I think it was favorable to them but I don’t really want to put everything on the referee,” he said.
“He did a fairly good job but he should have looked at the first play – the handball from the forward [Simon Cox] – before he gives the goalkeeper a red. I think if it was 11 v 11, we’ve shown in games before that we can come back and score goals. But that’s football. What can you do? The referee gives a call, you’ve just got to keep your heads up.”
We contacted the site to try and get further information on the story but they have yet to respond to our request. If they do, we will update you.
So what do you think? Conspiracy, a bit of luck, or just sour grapes? If you didn’t see the game, judge for yourself above.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
