Northern Ireland boss hits out at ‘staggering’ penalty

MICHAEL O’NEILL was left ‘staggered’ by the refereeing decisions that threaten to wreck Northern Ireland’s World Cup dream. O’Neill could not believe that Romanian official Ovidiu Hategan penalised Corry Evans for handball in the second half of last night’s play-off at Windsor Park, having decided not to send off Switzerland defender Fabian Schar for a reckless challenge early in the game. ‘It’s just staggering in this day and age when the stakes are so high that something like that is a game-changer,’ the manager said of the penalty decision. ‘The ball clearly strikes Corry on the back and the referee has a clear view of the incident. He’s turned, his arm isn’t in an unnatural position, it’s not away from his body. No one in the stadium thought it was a penalty. Even the Swiss players were surprised. We feel very hard done by.’ Blackburn defender Evans called the decision ‘disgraceful’, adding: ‘I clearly didn’t put my hand up and I know it hit me on the back of my shoulder. I’m just absolutely gutted. He booked me as well so it means I’m out of the second leg which is devastating.’ Having seen a replay of Schar’s twofooted lunge on Stuart Dallas, O’Neill insisted: ‘I definitely think it was a red card. So the referee certainly didn’t do us any favours. I don’t have to pick the players up (for Sunday). You can tell there is anger in the dressing room. They feel very aggrieved.’