SOUTHAMPTON (Dagbladet): The Norwegian women’s footballer started very well in the EC as the team won 4-1 over Northern Ireland on Thursday night.
After the game, Northern Ireland coach Kenny Shiels had no trouble raising his hands in the air:
– We learned a lot from today’s match!
But Shiels reacted strongly to UEFA appointing a Nordic referee to judge the match. The main judge is from Finland and her name is Lina Lehtovaara.
CELEBRATION IN THE SOUTH: Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten had much to brag about in a 4-1 win. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
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– We met two of the best strikers in the world, said Shiels, referring to Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen.
– Our players don’t meet that type of player very often. We were 2-0 down, then they (Norway) got a penalty because the ball hit the upper arm of one of our players.
He continued:
– Nordic referees – who are involved in a match involving a Nordic team – award a penalty. I don’t want to say that it happened because he was the judge. But I say the stats are there. That might make it difficult. Most referees will probably award a penalty. But it’s difficult for us.
Norway has a playroom!
With a 3-0 for Norway, the game was in fact over.
The Norwegian coach, Martin Sjögren, insists that it is not the referee who decides the match.
– What should I think about this? I thought the referee was good. We speak the same language. I thought the referee made a good match. It’s not the referee who decides this match, said Sjögren.
CONGRATULATIONS: The Norwegian players thank the crowd after the game at St. Mary’s Stadium in Southampton. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
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Coach Kenny Shiels tried to calm himself when he received further questions about the selection of referees. The women’s national team from Northern Ireland is in the championship for the first time.
Norway meets host nation England on Monday.
TABLE EC
| norway | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | – | 1 | 3 |
| English | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 0 | 3 |
| Austria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 4 | 0 |
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