Hungary boss Rossi slams referee's performance

Hungarian manager Marco Rossi hit out at the performance of referee Harm Osmers, after he watched his side play out a 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw with the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland got off to a dreadful start and trailed 2-0 at Aviva Stadium after just 15 minutes, but goals from Evan Ferguson and substitute Adam Idah either side of Roland Sallai's dismissal ultimately handed them a first Group F point from their opening fixture.

Hungary boss Rossi was unhappy with the way the game was refereed by Osmers, and not just because of Sallai's red card, which was prompted by a rash challenge on Dara O'Shea.

Rossi admitted that Ireland deserved a draw based on their second-half performance, but he was scathing in his assessment of the referee's performance and claimed that Ireland's opening goal should have been disallowed.

Rossi, whose side host Portugal on Tuesday evening, said: "There is disappointment though Ireland deserved the draw.

"We started well and dominated the game but then the referee began to think it was a wrestling match not a football match. And it should be for both sides.

"The first goal was a clear elbow from Collins on Barnabas Varga. You look at me like I say stupid things? It was a clear elbow. And then we have to defend with the ten men.

"I'm not happy with him (Sallai) and his attitude but he reacted to a clear, clear foul on our player. It was a reaction of frustration but at least the referee could have given a yellow. But our player should avoid a reaction like that in the future.

"When we play at home, I will be really surprised if we have a referee like this today, leaving them killing us in every contact."

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson was not too concerned by Rossi's remarks and when asked about then, he simply said: "If he's p****d, then he's just p****d.

Hallgrimsson has a quick turnaround now ahead of Tuesday's to Armenia, and having dropped points from the opening game, the Ireland boss believes that three point are a must,

"Always if you don't win, the recovery takes a little bit longer and we need to recover quickly. Now the game in Armenia has even more importance than before," he said.

"We said before this campaign four points would be okay. Our goal was six points and we are obviously disappointed not to have three in our bag."

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