Ex-Premier League team’s stars left crying in dressing room after ‘scandalous’ decision leaves them facing relegation
HUDDERSFIELD players were left “crying in the dressing room” after a controversial late penalty decision went against them in their 1-1 draw with Bristol City.
Terriers boss Andre Breitenreiter thought his side had earned a huge three points in their battle against the drop when Josh Koroma broke the deadlock in the 81st minute at Ashton Gate.
But they were denied deep into stoppage time when Cameron Pring’s cross was adjudged to have struck the arm of Oliver Turton.
Referee Rebecca Welch pointed to the spot in the 99th minute of the game, despite it being unclear whether it had even hit Turton’s arm and his close proximity to the ball.
Nakhi Wells converted the spot kick in the 101st minute to salvage a draw for Bristol City.
The result leaves Championship side Huddersfield one point adrift of safety with just three games remaining.
And German coach Breitenreiter, 50, revealed after the game that his team were shedding tears in the dressing room.
He said: “I disagree with the penalty decision but the boys played really well.
“Now they’re crying in the dressing room because they don’t understand how they haven’t won and its frustrating.
“It’s hard, but the performance was great.”
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Turton, who gave away the penalty, had only come off the bench in the 95th minute as Huddersfield looked to see the game out.
And Breitenreiter divulged his conversation with official Welch as he searched for clarity regarding the decision.
He said: “We spoke to the referee a few minutes ago and she hasn’t seen the replay after the game yet.
“I told her that she has to be 100 per cent right to give a penalty in the last minute.
“But, let us speak about our performance, we cannot change the decisions in the game.”
Calling on VAR to be introduced in the the second tier, he then added: “You need VAR here in the Championship, for sure.
“We always have discussions in the Premier League about how long it takes but we want to have fair decisions, and it was unfair today, it was unfair for the boys and they cannot understand.
“I don’t want to criticise the referee in public and we’ve told her our views, we just hope that we have a little bit more luck.”
Fans also voiced their disdain for the decision, with one saying: “Absolutely abysmal.”
Another added: “Never a penalty.”
A third replied: “Appalling decision.”
And a fourth simply responded: “Scandalous.”