Ferencváros assistant coach Leandro de Almeida vehemently protested a controversial penalty decision that he believes cost his team the match against Zalaegerszeg on Saturday. The defending champions fell 3-1 in a stunning upset, losing their previously unblemished away record in the process.
Photo: Fradi.hu
Ferencváros Avoided Potential Keane Ban?
Leandro made his comments after the match, taking responsibility for publicly questioning the officiating in an effort to shield head coach Robbie Keane from potential disciplinary action from the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ).
“You say a couple of things here in Hungary, and you’re immediately banned for ten matches, so you have to stay quiet. Even when you’re right.”
Despite playing a man down for much of the contest after Ibrahim Cisse’s 28th-minute red card, Leandro felt his team had been performing well until the decisive penalty call. He noted that Zalaegerszeg hadn’t registered a shot on goal while the teams were level.
“We prepared to be dangerous from our set pieces, and we are strong in that area. Then came the sending off… you just can’t make those kinds of mistakes. But even after that, the home side didn’t really create any chances. After the break, we still felt like we could score, even with ten men. The goal we conceded was simply a result of being late on our defensive tracking.
Throughout the match, I felt like we could score another goal from a counterattack or a set piece. Then came the penalty, which the referee and VAR deemed to be a penalty.”
The loss marked the first away defeat of the season for the league-leading club, and they could drop to second place on Sunday when Győri ETO hosts Kisvárda. Zalaegerszeg climbed to fifth in the standings with the victory.
