Collum says sorry after dodgy call costs Roma

WILLIE COLLUM has apologised to Roma for the blunder that cost the Italians a Europa League victory against Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Scottish referee pointed to the spot in injury time at the Stadio Olimpico after Chris Smalling was clearly struck in the face by a shot.

Collum was adamant it hit the arm of the on-loan Manchester United man and despite Roma protests the decision stood and Lars Stindl stepped up to secure a 1-1 draw.

Smalling, Edin Dzeko and Roma boss Paulo Fonseca lambasted the whistler after the fixture.

But the Twitter account of the Serie A giants revealed Collum was contrite afterwards.

They wrote: “AS Roma’s management spoke to the match officials after the game and they admitted that the decision to award the penalty was a mistake.

“We respect and thank them for their genuine honesty and now we focus on the next game.”

Roma were leading 1-0 at the time of the incident and Smalling tweeted after the match: “Disbelief that this decision went against us...We deserved the 3 points, so disappointed…”

Fonseca added: “It’s hard to accept a decision like that. All my players feel devastated.”

Speaking to the Italian media after the game, former Manchester City striker Dzeko revealed the referee ignored his pleas to reconsider his decision.

The Bosnian said: “I don’t understand how the referee was so sure it was a handball. There’s no way. It’s incredible. We could all tell right away.

“I told him just to look at Smalling’s face which had a mark on it. But the referee was so sure. He kept saying it was a penalty.”