Leicester v Atletico Madrid: A look back at controversial Filbert Street clash 20 years ago
Tuesday 18 April 2017 19:44, UK
Leicester host Atletico Madrid on Tuesday with revenge on their minds. With the help of Tony Cottee and Matt Elliott, we look back on a hugely controversial second-leg defeat for the Foxes in the 1997 UEFA Cup.
In football, grudges are not easily forgotten, especially when you feel cheated out of a dream that was the result of years of hard work.
Having battled through play-offs to secure a return to the Premier League a year before, Leicester earned an unlikely European adventure after winning the League Cup in 1996/97, with that voyage into the unknown beginning with the toughest of first-round ties against big spending Atletico Madrid.
Despite lining up against the likes of Juninho and Christian Vieri, Martin O'Neill's men didn't look out of place in the hostile Vicente Calderon first leg, returning to the East Midlands having netted a crucial away goal through Ian Marshall in a 2-1 defeat.
Filbert Street was packed to the rafters in late September for the return leg, with their side having every chance of a famous victory. Tony Cottee came on as a substitute that night, and told Sky Sports he will not forget his only European outing in a hurry
"I remember it like it was yesterday." Cottee says. "When I went to Leicester, I wasn't expecting to be involved in a European campaign. They worked so hard to get there.
"Ian Marshall scored that away goal, and we played really well over there. We had an away goal. One goal and we were through. Confidence was high."
Hope turned to expectation around Filbert Street when Juan Lopez was shown a red card by referee Remi Harrel just before the hour mark with the score still goalless. Then came the incident that is still fresh in the minds of a generation of Leicester fans.
"Second half, Garry Parker decided to take a quick free-kick, which was saved easily I might add, and the referee decided to brandish that second yellow," former defender Matt Elliott told The Fantasy Football Club. "He did it with real vigour, he really put it in his [Parker's] face, taking great delight in showing that second yellow."
With the numbers even once more, Atletico took advantage of the extra space to score twice to break Leicester hearts.
It wasn't just that incident that so irked the masses at Filbert Street that night, though. Muzzy Izzet appeared to be felled on three occasions in the box, only for the referee to wave away appeals. O'Neill was incredulous, according to Cottee.
"The refereeing was absolutely diabolical," Cottee adds. "He was blowing up for absolutely everything. We had two or three strong penalty appeals not given. Then came the red card that changed everything.
The ones that would have seen the game, would have to be around 35 years of age now, they will never forget that night. It was the ultimate miscarriage of justice.
"I used to watch Martin O'Neill get animated on the touchline, but on this night he was having a go at everyone. He was furious. We felt it was such an injustice. It was everything, from corners to sending offs.
"Martin was really thrilled with how we had done. It had not been a kind draw to get Atletico in the first round, but we deserved to win."
Harrel was immediately dropped by UEFA and never refereed in European competition again but the memories of that night remain for Leicester supporters.
What better way to banish the memories of the occasion than by sealing an unprecedented Champions League semi-final appearance at the expense of those victors 20 years ago.
"The ones that would have seen the game, would have to be around 35 years of age now, they will never forget that night. It was the ultimate miscarriage of justice," Cottee adds.
"I spoke to Garry Parker the other day, and he told me about the referee not officiating in Europe again. That says it all really. There were some really poor decisions.
"But I have enjoyed following Leicester this season in Europe. They qualified so well and then, as I said on the Soccer Special before the Sevilla games, there will be a lot of teams who don't want to play them. That hasn't changed. Teams might make the mistake of underestimating them. This time lets hope for some better officials."
However, Leicester suffered another controversial decision in Madrid last week when referee Jonas Eriksson awarded Atletico a penalty for a Marc Albrighton challenge on Antoine Griezmann that appeared to be outside the box.
The Spain forward converted from the spot and the Foxes must now overturn a one-goal deficit at home on Tuesday to reach the Champions League semi-finals and move a step closer to a fairy tale even greater than last season's title win.
