FIFA referee: Norwegian referee's handling of the "Qarabağ" - "Newcastle" match was criticized

Espen Eskos, the main referee of the UEFA Champions League play-off match between "Qarabağ" and "Newcastle" (1:6) in Baku, wanted to show off to the English and manage the game in an "English style".

This was stated by FIFA referee Fariz Yusifov.

He said that the foul committed by the opponent player against the "Qarabağ" player should have resulted in at least a yellow card, or even a red card.

"In one of the episodes, the opponent player stomped on the foot of the "Qarabağ" player. For this, at least a yellow card should have been given. Because the player's foot could have been broken. The blow was delivered with the bottom of the foot, to the unprotected area - the back of the ankle. In general, he did not react to such fouls, stomping on the feet. It seemed that because the opponent was an English club, he wanted to show himself, to judge in an "English style"," he said in an interview with report.az.

Touching upon the penalty episode, F. Yusifov emphasized that the Norwegian referee did not feel the spirit of the game:

"During the penalty episode in the 32nd minute, they took as a basis that the ball was going towards the goal. But even if the ball was going towards the goal, there were two more "Qarabağ" players behind Mateus Silva, who fell to the ground. Moreover, he put his hand on the ground as a support when he fell and he didn't see the ball. At the moment the player fell, his face was towards his own goal, meaning he didn't see the shot. Giving such a penalty in favor of a team that is 2:0 ahead is not being able to read the spirit of the game. This is a "cheap penalty". It was clear from the beginning of the game that "Qarabağ" would lose. Even if VAR called, the referee could have shown his determination and continued the game."

The referee considered it a fair decision to record the goal scored by Elvin Jafarguliyev after the VAR review:

"The assistant referee may have made a mistake and raised the offside flag. But VAR watched and justice prevailed. The goal was clean."

It should be noted that the return match between "Qarabağ" and "Newcastle" will take place in England on the night of February 24-25, at 00:00.