Friday 10 November 2017 11:38, UK
Iain Dowie says referee Ovidiu Hategan "guessed" when awarding Switzerland a penalty in their World Cup play-off first leg against Northern Ireland.
Ricardo Rodriguez converted a controversial 58th-minute penalty to hand Switzerland a 1-0 advantage ahead of the second leg on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, which has left Northern Ireland with a mountain to climb if they are to reach their first World Cup since 1986.
Romanian referee Hategan gave the spot-kick having determined Corry Evans handled Xherdan Shaqiri's shot, though replays were inconclusive over whether it struck the Blackburn midfielder's arm, which was tucked in by his side as he jumped.
"Michael [O'Neill] will know they were nowhere near the best they've played," Dowie told Sky Sports News.
"He knows that with two or three players that can hold their heads up high, others weren't quite at the level but, at the magnitude of this game, for that decision to be made at that moment is incredible.
"There's a lot of anger as these games matter to a lot of people - there's no reason why we should be having that.
"I've done MLS games for Sky where we use video review and it changes things and brilliantly so.
"That [play-off] game's dead. They should have a look at it and it should not be a penalty, and it's not a penalty the more I look at it.
"It's arguable if it even hits his arm and, this is the worst part of it, he's guessed. He's looked at it and seen an arm.
"He cannot see an arm because there was no arm. His view; no arm. So how can he possibly give a penalty?
"The only reason I'm thinking is, he's guessed. I think one player appeals for it but Michael, I heard him last night, I thought he was very composed and calm, but I do sense that hopefully he can use that hurt in the game to conjure up another brilliant away performance.
"But, I've also got to say, Switzerland were the better side."
Evans was equally angered by the decision and his misery was compounded by receiving a yellow card that ruled him out of the return leg.
"It was disgraceful," he said. "I clearly didn't put my hand up. I know it hit me on the back of the shoulder and I'm just absolutely gutted."
Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic sympathised but did highlight his own side's superiority, with Haris Seferovic twice unfortunate not to score and Shaqiri almost bending an effort into the top corner.
"It's not a definite penalty," the Swiss boss said. "We deserved to win, only because of our lack of finishing do we talk about this penalty."
