Phil Neville criticised the standard of refereeing in women’s international football after several decisions went against England in a controversial 1-1 draw with Australia.
Neville’s side had two strong penalty appeals rejected and a goal wrongly disallowed for offside before their frustrations were compounded by conceding an 84th-minute equaliser in Tuesday’s friendly at Craven Cottage.
Another tight decision by French referee Florence Guillemin and her officials saw England denied a goal when they thought the ball had crossed the line.
England manager Neville told Sky Sports News: “I am disappointed because this has happened more than once. It is not a one-off.
Frustrating evening out there for the #Lionesses. We go again! 💪 pic.twitter.com/8HGUnIVI1L — Lionesses (@Lionesses) October 9, 2018
“We have drawn 1-1 and we have had two penalties (not given) and two goals that should have been allowed. That’s a 4-0 game for us nearly – and the type of gap between the two teams I thought it was.
“I can see the offside – it was tight – and the goal-line clearance, there is no goal-line technology.
“But the two penalty decisions – it astounds me. It is a big worry that that level of international referee can get those decisions wrong.”
Neville admitted that he was “angry a little bit” as he watched events unfold on the touchline.
On the standard of refereeing, he added: “It is improving but it needs to get better. We’ll be judged on the standard of our play and I think we’ve got to judge them on the standard of theirs.
“For me, if I’m talking really honestly, their standard wasn’t up to the standard of international football.”
Neville was also frustrated with his players’ own profligacy. Controversy aside, England wasted a series of chances to make the result safe after Fran Kirby – match-winner against Brazil on Saturday – had opened the scoring in the 21st minute.
They paid the price when Clare Polkinghorne equalised from a corner late on.
Neville told BT Sport: “We weren’t ruthless enough again, we had one-on-ones. We played some good stuff but in terms of where they’re at in their season, we should be winning that game 3-0 or 4-0.
You try stopping her 🤷♀️#Lionesses pic.twitter.com/yWckGzSZve — Lionesses (@Lionesses) October 9, 2018
“It’s frustrating because we have worked hard over the last 10 days and to beat Australia and Brazil would have been good for our confidence.
“But I think maybe 1-1 we can go away and see where we have to improve. We have got to be more ruthless – we have to put our chances away. We were careless in front of goal and at 1-0 the opposition can always score.”
Neville admitted he feared an equaliser was likely.
He said: “I knew it was coming because they had good delivery from their right-hand side. They were bigger than us, taller than us and I knew if they got another couple of set-pieces a goal would come.”
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