UEFA backing referee Webb
13 Jun 2008 - 14:47:23
UEFA have backed Howard Webb following the Premier League referee's decision to award Austria a controversial late penalty in Thursday's 1-1 draw with Poland.
Poland coach Leo Beenhakker was outraged that Webb pointed to the spot after judging that Mariusz Lewandowski had tugged the shirt of Austria striker Sebastian Prodl in second-half stoppage time.
Ivica Vastic's spot-kick secured Austria an unlikely 1-1 draw to put a huge dent in Poland's hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals, but UEFA director of communications William Gaillard has backed the judgement of the referee.
He said: "We don't think it is controversial that a player is pulled down by the shirt and a penalty is given.
"It (the decision) was certainly within the laws of the game."
Poland must now win against already-qualified Croatia in their final game and hope the result in the other match between Germany and Austria goes their way if they are to reach the quarter-finals.
