Polish PM wanted to kill referee
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has admitted he wanted to kill English referee Howard Webb after he awarded Austria an injury-time penalty in their Euro 2008 Group B match - though he said he was speaking as a fan and not in his political capacity.
'Today, I must speak as Prime Minister but last night my conversation was very different: I wanted to kill somebody...You know very well who, like every other Pole,' said Tusk.
Webb's decision, which was called totally unjustified by Poland coach Leo Beenhakker, saw the co-hosts Austria pull off a 1-1 draw.
The result severely dented Polish hopes of making the last eight as they and the Austrians have just a point and both need to beat Croatia, who have already qualified, and Germany on Monday if they are to have any chance.
'Refereeing errors happen, of course, but this was especially galling. It was totally unjust. It wounded us all.
'It would have been better to have lost this match in the first-half, when the Austrians had several good chances.
'A heavy defeat after a normally refereed game is not as bad,' added Tusk, who is a keen football supporter and plays it regularly.
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at least he only experience one game with an English Referee...
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who cares are you speaking as a fan or as a PM.
as long as got intention to kill, charge him!
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never mix politcal with football
_l_ off PM
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Webb gets UEFA backing over penalty decision
UEFA officials have backed Howard Webb following the Premier League referee's eventful first match at the European Championships. Webb awarded co-hosts Austria a last-gasp penalty at Ernst Happel Stadium when Mariusz Lewandowski wrestled with Sebastian Prodl, a decision Poland coach Leo Beenhakker believed was inconsistent with the rest of the tournament.
Beenhakker revealed that each country was given a DVD telling them grappling would be targeted but Poland were the first in Euro 2008 to concede a penalty in that way. 'We don't think it is controversial that a player is pulled down by the shirt and a penalty is given,' said UEFA director of communications William Gaillard. 'It (Webb's decision) was certainly within the laws of the game.'
Beenhakker accused Webb of trying to prove he was a 'big boy' following the 1-1 draw in Vienna, although Austria also had reason to be unhappy with the English officials as Poland's goal appeared to be offside.
UEFA's disciplinary body will judge whether Beenhakker faces action for his comments, while the referees' committee will decide if Webb and assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey will take charge of another game at the tournament.
Given that England are not at the tournament, it was seen as an opportunity for Webb's team to stay at the tournament until the latter stages. Gaillard added: 'The referees' committee analyses all the games and makes the appointments according to its own analyses and we don't interfere with the way they are managing officials in this tournament.
'For sure there is a better chance to referee the final matches as his national team is not there but that is a statistical chance. 'I wouldn't speculate about the decisions of our referees' committee.'