Angry Blokhin confronts critic

20 June 2012 06:47

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin was involved in an amazing row with a local journalist after his side's 1-0 defeat to England in Donetsk.

In his post-match press conference, Blokhin felt the questioning had become personal and suggested the journalist should "come outside and have a man talk". Then, when the conference had finished, Blokhin pointed to the journalist, and then to the door from which he made his exit - the journalist declined the offer.

"Respect my job," Blokhin said. "Let's go this one on one. You want to go with me? Let's have a man conversation. You should respect that I played football. Did you play football? Respect my job and me."

He added: "I won't allow anyone to criticise my team, about (Oleh) Gusev or (Andriy) Shevchenko. If you're a man, go with me. One on one."

Earlier Blokhin had expressed his disappointment at Marko Devic's disallowed goal, which appeared to cross the line before it was cleared by John Terry.

It would have brought the hosts level with 30 minutes remaining and given them a chance of salvaging their status in the competition.

"There are five referees on the pitch and the ball is 50cm behind the goal-line. Why do we need five officials?" he said. "They don't spot (Andy) Carroll's elbow, either? Or that (John) Terry fouls one of my players in the back?

"(Pierluigi) Collina told us that every movement with an elbow is a card, and every foul from behind is a yellow card. And yet where was that today? You write what you want - you've seen it. I don't want to criticise the referee."

Blokhin said he felt England's quarter-final with Italy in Kiev on Sunday was "50-50".

"If they play against Spain, it would have been much harder for them," he said. "This is not the same Italy that won the World Cup (in 2006), so let's see how it goes."

Source: PA