Hughes and Sanchez criticise referee over red cards

Wales manager Mark Hughes and his Northern Ireland counterpart Lawrie Sanchez expressed their disappointment at the three red cards issued by Italian referee Domenico Messina in their World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

Messina issued the cards in the first 21 minutes of the 2-2 draw in Cardiff, with Northern Ireland finishing with nine men.

Wales midfielder Robbie Savage and Michael Hughes were dismissed in the ninth minute after Savage retaliated to a challenge by Hughes, while Northern Ireland's David Healy was dismissed in the 21st minute for over-exuberant celebrations after he scored a goal.

"I didn't see the first red card incident, but Robbie says no way was it a sending-off and it did change the whole complex of the game," said Mark Hughes. "We're disappointed with the result, but we'll pick ourselves up from this."

Sanchez was also upset with the red cards. "I'm disappointed. We should have won the game, but the referee was disappointing," he said.

"Healy's goal celebrations are always like that so something was lost in the translation," he added.