Watch: Ħamrun Spartans CEO slams referees' performance in Runavik defeat
Match officials award Runavik a penalty even though the ball was played from out of play
Ħamrun Spartans CEO Marcel Bonnici has slammed referees who oversaw his team’s controversial UEFA Conference League elimination as “very low quality” and said the penalty decision that cost Spartans the match was “something incredible.”
NSI Runavik won the match 2-1 to progress 3-2 on aggregate and will now face Slovenian side Koper in the second qualifying round.
The game looked to be heading into extra time when, in the second minute of stoppage time, the NSÍ forward Tobias Hestad chased a loose ball near the byline and managed to send it back into the penalty area.
Television replays appeared to indicate that the ball had already crossed the goal line before Hestad reached it. Still, neither Luxembourg referee Jeremy Muller nor his assistant deemed it out of play.
Believing a goal kick had been awarded, Ħamrun captain Emerson Marcelina picked up the ball inside the area to place it for the restart. Instead, the officials awarded NSÍ a penalty for deliberate handball.
Peter Knudsen converted from the spot to send the Faroese side through, leaving Marcelina in tears as he requested to be substituted to a standing ovation from the Ħamrun supporters.
At the final whistle, furious Ħamrun players surrounded the match officials, while supporters voiced their anger from the stands as the refereeing team was escorted from the pitch by police officers.ż
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