JOACHIM ANDERSEN has blasted “brain dead” Michael Oliver “one of the worst refereeing performances” he has ever seen.
The Denmark defender saw a goal ruled out for the tightest of offsides before, minutes later, conceding an incredibly harsh penalty for handball in the 2-0 defeat to Germany.
Andersen’s goal, which would have put the Dane’s 1-0 up against the hosts, was chalked off by the semi-automated offside technology with teammate Thomas Delaney’s toes in an offside position.
Minutes later, at the other end, play was pulled back after Uefa’s new “snickometer” and English VAR Stuart Attwell showed that the ball had grazed the Crystal Palace man’s hand from David Raum’s cross and a spot kick was given.
Kai Havertz netted for Germany and they did not look back.
Andersen raged: “It’s one of the worst refereeing performances I’ve seen in my career.
“Offside is offside, but that you can rule on the ball in such a situation is absolutely crazy.
“I had it in a natural position, so no penalty can ever be awarded. They told us that in black and white.
“That he then goes out and judges it handball – an English referee even – is completely brain dead.
“For me it is never a pen, they come every season to describe the rules for us.
“For two years now that would never be a pen, in the Premier League in the last two years there is not one situation where the referee has given a pen. Horrible decision.”
Asked if he had discussed the decision with ref Oliver, Andersen said: “You can’t speak to the ref nowadays.
“We must not talk to him. We get fines and red cards.
“Just say one little thing and it’s: ‘Boom, yellow card.’ It’s a ridiculous rule.
“He can make all the mistakes he wants and we must not say anything.
“Of course you react when the referee makes a wrong decision. And I don’t know how many of them he made in this match.”
In the Premier League, Oliver would not have been expected to give a spot kick for a similar incident, though Uefa are far more strict when it comes to handball.
It is not the first time English refs have been in the spotlight in Germany, however. Attwell and Anthony Taylor were criticised by Uefa for the time taken to make a decision on Xavi Simons’ disallowed goal for Netherlands against France, despite reaching the correct decision.
Former Leicester goalkeeper and Denmark captain, Kasper Schmeichel, added: “I’ve played the game for over 20 years I don’t know the handball rules anymore, it is very subjective.
“It depends on who the ref or VAR is, it makes it difficult to know what is what.
“I am not sure what he is supposed to do with his arm in that situation when you are running and it is hit at you from a yard or so.
“I would say that is a natural position when you are running but they thought different.”
Brentford’s Christian Norgaard said: “I’ve had Michael a few times in the Premier League and I’ve always seen him as a very good referee, he’s always been at the highest level, but I think even he would admit that this game that today was a doubtful performance.
“I get it, like us as players also have doubtful performances now and then.
“It felt like he had to make up one mistake with another mistake, another mistake, another mistake. It was just like that throughout the whole game.”
