Slovakia defender Jan Durica accuses referee Milorad Mazic of favouring England
Tuesday 6 September 2016 08:29, UK
Slovakia defender Jan Durica has accused the referee of "preferring" England in Sunday's World Cup Qualifier.
Durica claims Serbian match official Milorad Mazic's decision to give Martin Skrtel a second yellow card for a stamp on Harry Kane was "a really strict red card".
The defender also appeared to suggest there is a preference for England to reach the World Cup at the expense of the other Group F teams.
Skrtel's dismissal meant Slovakia played more than half an hour with 10 men in the game, which England won 1-0 through Adam Lallana's injury-time goal.
"There is only one place at the World Cup," said the Trabzonspor defender. "Why should Slovakia go there, when we have England in the group?
"Of course, they will always prefer stronger team. Probably the referee exactly knew how to do it.
"And it was after a really strict red card. I think that the referee waited until Skrtel did a foul. We were really unhappy.
"Englishmen knew that they are one player more, so, logically, they began pushing forward and creating the pressure. But they did not have clear chances, so that is why we regret it.
"If they would have created some great action and scored nice goal, you say it is okay, but not such as goal in the stoppage time."
