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Robinson fumes at decision

06 Apr 2007 - 07:45:25

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Furious Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson slammed the decision to award Sevilla a controversial penalty in their 2-1 UEFA Cup defeat in Spain.

The England number one was angered by referee Alain Hamer's decision to penalise him for bringing down Sevilla midfielder Adriano in the penalty area despite appearing to clearly win the ball.

Former Spurs striker Freddie Kanoute converted the spot-kick to pull the home side level after Robbie Keane's second minute opener and Sevilla went on to secure a 2-1 first leg advantage after Alexander Kerzhakov's 36th minute winner.

"I got two hands on the ball," claimed Robinson. "The ref said I got the ball and then the man - surely that's a fair challenge?

"For them to get back into the game like that was disappointing."

Tottenham skipper Robbie Keane went further and called the referee's first-half decision a "disgrace".

"It's nice to score an early goal and we started well," said the Republic of Ireland international.

"But the penalty - and I have to choose my words carefully - was a disgrace.

"To go one up and get a decision like that against you - we're devastated."