Glenn Hoddle was furious at the penalty awarded to Sporting after their stunning comeback against Bod/Glimt in the Champions League last 16. The Portuguese club returned home trailing 0-3 after a heavy defeat in Norway a week ago. However, they had the upper hand in the second leg and deservedly pulled one back with a header from Gonzalo Inacio in the 34th minute.
Pedro Gonçalves then made it 3-2 on aggregate with an hour remaining, giving the Estadio Jose Alvalade great hope. Sporting then repeatedly tried to score a third goal to equalize, but Fredrik Bjorkan was judged to have handled the ball inside the box and was awarded a penalty. After the delay, Swiss referee Sandro Schaller was asked to look at the pitchside VAR monitor and, after a quick check, pointed to the spot. Striker Luis Suarez sent goalkeeper Nikita Hikin the wrong way, much to the delight of the home fans. But not everyone was happy, with Hoddle unhappy with TNT Sports’ commentary.
The 68-year-old former England player and manager even declared “the game is over” in reaction to the spot-kick decision. “It was too close. We’ll see how it goes, but I think in the end it was too close,” Hoddle said shortly after the incident, as Sporting players surrounded the referee to plead for a penalty.
As replays were shown, the former Tottenham midfielder added: “It was too close and there was a slight deflection too. They can’t give a penalty for that. It definitely hit the hand, but it went down through the stomach into the hand and his hand is actually… not anywhere near where the cross went in…”
“If we’re giving a penalty for this, then the game is over. Can we play with a different size ball or a different goal in Europe? Because, you know, I don’t understand that. I really don’t know. If you’re giving a penalty for something like this…”
“Just because it hits you in the arm doesn’t mean it’s always a penalty from that area. You just flip the ball into your opponent’s hands and get a penalty. That’s what will happen.”
When the penalty was awarded, he said: “It’s upsetting. For the sake of football, that’s not a penalty. In the Premier League, you can’t give it, 100 per cent. If it’s a penalty, I have to say we should all take it seriously.”
The second leg finished 3-0 after 90 minutes, forcing extra time. Despite having 33 shots on goal, Sporting was unable to score a decisive fourth goal to avoid 30 minutes of extra time.
Before extra time began, Hoddle let out another groan at the penalty decision. He was furious: “I don’t think that’s a penalty in the Premier League, I don’t think it’s a penalty per se.
“The ball was deflected off his chest into his hands, and his hands weren’t that far away from his body either. I don’t understand handball anymore. I don’t think anyone will. In Europe, you’ll never understand. It seems like if the ball hits your arm, it’s a penalty.”
Sporting took the lead just two minutes into extra time when Maximiliano Araujo scored his fourth goal, beating the keeper at the near post. If the Gunners defeat Bayer Leverkusen later tonight, the winner of this contest could face Premier League leaders Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
