Coach Olaroiu slams ‘inventive’ referee

“I knew Yaqoub Al Hammadi would want to take revenge against me and he would do something,” Olaroiu explained afterwards in his post-match press conference.

Dubai — Cosmin Olaroiu slammed referee Yaqoub Al Hammadi for not “knowing the rules” and depriving his Al Ahli side of “the right to play” in their derby-day draw with Al Nasr.

The Romanian coach has long held the belief that the men in the middle have been conspiring against his team in an Arabian Gulf League season that seems destined to culminate in Al Ain recapturing the championship crown they relinquished to the Red Knights last term.

Olaroiu’s assertion developed more credence too on Thursday night, when his incredulity and ire was stoked by Al Hammadi’s decision to award the Blue Wave a late penalty for an innocuous ‘foul’ by Kwon Kyung Won on Brett Holman. “I knew Yaqoub Al Hammadi would want to take revenge against me and he would do something,” Olaroiu explained afterwards in his post-match press conference.

“I have two big problems. Firstly, he doesn’t know the rules and this is very bad and, secondly, nobody shows — and teaches — him when he has made a mistake.

“Can somebody explain to me what decision he has taken on the penalty? It doesn’t exist; it’s impossible. He (Al Hammadi) invented it and everyone knows why he did it. You cannot punish us. You have to do your job. We know we made mistakes and missed chances, but he took away our right to play football.

“When he saw they (Al Nasr) didn’t have any chances and couldn’t reach our goal, he did something about it and invented something. That’s the worst thing.” When it was put to Olaroiu that he was potentially risking a hefty fine and/or a touchline ban with this outspoken attack on Al Hammadi, the 45-year-old replied: “I tell the truth and I say what I see.

“It’s no penalty. If I know that it’s not a penalty, do you want me to say that it is one? I have to tell the truth or I come here and I say: ‘Yes, thanks to God, they gave a penalty against us.’

“I have to say what I see and I know for sure that it’s not a penalty. I’ve said only the truth.” Meanwhile, Nasr manager Ivan Jovanovic took considerable heart from his team’s spirit in this battling display after they fought back from 2-0 down to pick up a point.

“The most important element of the game was how we reacted,” Jovanovic commented. “We were playing against a very good team and, after going 2-0 behind, we had two options. “We could have either let our heads drop because we are in a difficult period or react how we did and I’m very happy with my team’s reaction.”

alex@khaleejtimes.com