Ireland fans slam 'disgraceful' referee decision after Norway score controversial costly equaliser
Ireland's Euro 2025 hopes hang in the balance after conceding a last-gasp goal in controversial circumstances.
Ireland fans have been left fuming and blasted a 'disgraceful' referee decision in the build-up to Norway's late equaliser.
Irish defender Anselmo Garcia MacNulty saw his shirt clearly dragged in the build-up to the goal as he attempted to shepherd the ball to safety, only for the referee to wave play on.
Norway took full advantage, with Andreas Schjelderup scoring a rebound to earn a vital draw for the side.
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The late equaliser has huge ramifications on Ireland's Euro 2025 qualification hopes with top spot no virtually out of the question.
Ireland went into the game two points ahead of third-placed Norway and four points behind group leaders Italy. However, tonight was a crucial game in hand for Jim Crawford's men, and a win would have closed the gap to just one point.
With goal difference deciding the group, Ireland must beat Italy by six goals when they meet next week. Conversely, a loss for Norway would have knocked them out of contention and secured Ireland a play-off spot. The controversial equaliser leaves it all hanging in the balance.
And Ireland fans were left angered by the decision, taking to social media to vent their anger.
One Irish fan said: "How isn't that a shirt pull."
Another said, "Blantant free kick."
And another added: "Disgraceful decision."
Goalscorer Sean Roughan took a more diplomatic stance when speaking to RTE after the game.
"Some of these refs give bad decisions and, at the end of the day, we shouldn't be leaving it down to them. We should take it into our own hands and get rid of it really.
"There is still one game to go and we are two points ahead. We have to dust ourselves down and go again. Nothing in life is easy, if everything was easy everyone would be at it. We've got to go to Italy and it will be a very tough game and hopefully get the job done there."
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