Former England and Chelsea star Joe Cole eviscerated the referee after a controversial penalty was awarded in opposition to Gareth Southgate’s aspect of their Euro 2024 qualifier in opposition to North Macedonia. Filip Glova pointed to the spot after debutant Rico Lewis was adjudged to have fouled ahead Bojan Miovski contained in the field earlier than the hosts took the lead.
Enis Bardhi scored on the rebound after Jordan Pickford saved his effort from 12 yards. Cole was one among many who felt that the spot kick mustn’t have been awarded and he claimed that the official needed to be “the star of the present” in his evaluation of the penalty determination.
A excessive ball bounced within the space earlier than Lewis caught Miovski’s face and after the ahead went down, a VAR verify confirmed {that a} penalty was awarded in opposition to the Three Lions.
“It’s absurd,” Cole instructed Channel 4. “The ref noticed it in actual time and you recognize the man is kidding, have a look at the man rolling round on the ground. You’re going to get folks operating into folks’s palms and elbows within the field now. The ref – we’ve discovered one.
“He needs to be the star of the present. Pickford does excellently to get his hand on it however the rebound drops and he can’t miss from there. I really feel for Rico Lewis as a result of he’s been very, superb on his England debut.”
Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott, on the panel with Cole, echoed his sentiments: “Very harsh. Very exhausting achieved by. There’s no approach he is aware of the ahead is coming. It’s within the air and it’s the palm of his hand, not his elbow.
