Northern Ireland fans are less than please after their 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in their 1st leg World cup Qualifier match in Belfast tonight.
Michael O’Neill’s men were being dominated on possession as Switzerland took a hold of the game but the Green & White army held firm and didn’t show any signs of cracking until a controversial penalty decision was given to the Swiss.
Referee Ovidiu Hategan judged Corry Evans blocked Xherdan Shaqiri’s shot to be handball which Rodriguez stepped up to convert in the 58th minute giving the visitors a crucial away goal.
The game ended 1-0 leaving Northern Ireland with everything to do for the away 2nd leg in Basel on Sunday.
Here’s the incident. What do you think?
Ricardo Rodriguez gives Switzerland the lead against Northern Ireland off the penalty spotpic.twitter.com/xCWDlkEyte
— Milan Eye (@MilanEye) November 9, 2017
Watched this back a few times from a few angles.
Arms down ✅
Arms in ✅
Unnatural position ❌
Deliberate ❌Referee is wrong. It's not a penalty by any interpretation of the laws. #NIRSWI #NIRSUI #GAWA pic.twitter.com/VP9WBBmH27
— Christopher James (@ChrisJames_90) November 9, 2017
I just don't see how you can give that penalty. Ovidiu Hategan is a very experienced referee. It is not deliberate. It's hit at him very fast. His arms are in a natural position. Does he thrust his shoulder out? I'm shocked. World Cup Playoff people. Don't guess. #NIRSUI
— Sam Matterface (@sammatterface) November 9, 2017
Shocking decision for the penalty against NI….
— Stephen Watson (@winkerwatson1) November 9, 2017
Referees decision to give that penalty is criminal!!!
— Jordan Thompson (@x88_j) November 9, 2017
Was that a penalty for Switzerland?
— The Football Pools (@footballpools) November 9, 2017
Penalty to Switzerland. A volley has hit a player on the arm and the ref points to the spot! The players can't believe it…? #NIRSUI #DreamBigger #GAWA
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) November 9, 2017
Never a penalty. Never ever. Never. No way. No penalty. Awful decision. Terrible refereeing. All that hard work #GAWA #NIRSUI
— Jason Mohammad (@jasonmohammad) November 9, 2017
In 1 of the worst sporting decisions of the decade a referee awards Switzerland a penalty v. N. Ireland in #WorldCupQualifier. Shockingly wrong.
— Bill Neely (@BillNeelyNBC) November 9, 2017
Think any of my reservations about video refs have just gone out the window when you see what's happened to N Ireland with that penalty decision
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) November 9, 2017