Hungary coach Marco Rossi launched a scathing attack on referee Danny Makkelie after claiming Germany did not need any help from the match officials to win the Euros this summer.
Rossi was furious that Germany’s opening goal was not ruled out for a perceived foul on Willi Orban by Ilkay Gundogan before Jamal Musiala scored.
The incident was checked by VAR Rob Dieperink but the goal was allowed to stand, sparking anger from the Hungary coach who accused Makkelie of double standards after later awarding Germany’s Robert Andrich a free-kick in what he felt were similar circumstances.
“I’ve never complained in my career or looked for excuses but what the referee did tonight – come on,” Rossi said. “Even the Germans here in the press conference can see the referee was guilty of double standards.
“He allowed a push on Orban and for a similar situation on Andrich he whistled for a foul. We need one standard, not double standards. Germany would have won anyway but the referee in my opinion was the worst on the pitch.”
Rossi cast doubt on whether the goal would have stood had Germany been playing a more high profile team such as France.
“Germany are possibly the favourites to win the Euros but they didn’t need help from the referee to win the Euros,” he said. “Let’s see if Germany play France, say, whether a foul will be given for that.”
Gundogan, the Germany captain, was bemused by Rossi’s reaction and, if anything, felt Orban had collided with him.
“I was quite surprised the Hungary players were angry about it,” the Barcelona and former Manchester City midfielder said.
“I don’t know what it looked like on TV but I played in the Premier League for seven years and if they gave that in the Premier League everyone would have been laughing on the floor.”
By James Ducker
You could almost sense Ilkay Gundogan’s reluctance to accept the acclaim from Germany’s supporters but this was one instance where Maximilian Mittelstadt was not going to indulge his captain’s humility. Pushing him forward, an almost apologetic Gundogan had no choice but to soak up the applause and lead his team-mates on a lap of honour. Toni Kroos would later do similar, encouraging the game’s man of the match to enjoy an encore.
Gundogan’s relationship with the German public has, at times, been an uneasy one, the joke being that he should send his twin brother to international games because the player has too often struggled to replicate his inspired club form for his country.
But there have been encouraging signs over the past week of Germany and Gundogan finally finding each other and the warmth shown here towards the Barcelona player, who had been given a deserved standing ovation when he took his leave in the 84th minute, felt significant.