’APOLOGY’ NEEDED AFTER 12 CARDS

FUMING Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter insists the IFA owe his team and Glentoran an apology after the performance Latvian referee

Andris Treimanis at the Oval on Saturday.

The visiting official, in Belfast as part of an IFA exchange programme, red-carded Crues players Kyle Owens and Rory Patterson along with Glentoran’s John Mcguigan. He also flashed the yellow card nine times! Things deteriorated just before the break when Marcus Kane clattered into Paul Heatley (left), which resulted in a mass brawl involving almost every player on the pitch along with both dugouts. Heatley shot the Crues into the lead before John Herron levelled. Patterson then blasted in a beauty to put the visitors back in front, which was cancelled by Robbie Mcdaid’s clever finish. But it was the performance of the referee that was the game’s talking point.

“It’s the worst piece of refereeing I’ve witnessed in 30 years, it was embarrassing,” said Baxter. “I blame the IFA for organising these exchange programmes.

“It was farcical, and it wasn’t fair on both teams – it’s beyond a joke.

“Our association (IFA) needs to apologise to our club and also to Glentoran for what happened.”

Glentoran boss Ronnie Mcfall agreed with Baxter’s assessment.

He added: “When you bring in referees from different countries, they are not used to our culture.”