Football
ESPN staff 8y

Slovakia defender Jan Durica accuses referee of bias in defeat to England

Slovakia defender Jan Durica has criticised the performance of Serbian referee Milorad Mazic in his side's 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to England on Sunday.

Sam Allardyce claimed victory in his first game in charge courtesy of Adam Lallana's goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time, with the Slovakia having to play the final 33 minutes with 10 men after Martin Skrtel was dismissed for two bookable offences. 

Durica, 34, claims Mazic gave decisions in favour of England and was waiting for the chance to dismiss Skrtel -- even though television replays clearly showed the former Liverpool defender stamp on Harry Kane when already on a yellow.

"There is only one place at the World Cup," Durica told reporters. "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.

"The 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 had created some great play and scored a nice goal, you say it is okay, but not such as a goal in the stoppage time."

Skrtel's red card appeared to have been coming for some time -- he had twice been spoken to by Mazic after the first yellow -- and Kane believes Skrtel was lucky to stay on the pitch as long as he did.

"There were a few challenges that I felt could have earned him a yellow card but it didn't come," Kane said. "It was just a matter of time. It was a silly thing for him to do because he was on a yellow. The ref has seen it and I think it deserved another yellow card."

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