Ivanauskas blasts referee

Last updated : 24 August 2006 By Sam
The Jambo's finished the 3-0 defeat in Greece with just nine men after midfield player Julian Brellier picked up two bookings in the space of five first half minutes and Neil McCann was shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on Vladimir Ivic twenty minutes from time.

"The referee's decisions have cost us the chance to win the game," the Hearts head coach said after the match in Athens.

"We had chances in this game and played with heart, but I don't like to see these things from the referee.

"It was unbelievable and I can't believe that they do these things in such important games.

"Yes, Brellier was booked because he was wearing an earring.

"But the referee checked every player before and said they were okay to play with tape, so why he booked him I do not know.

"And the second yellow card for Brellier was not a foul. It would not be even possible to give this foul in a game of basketball, which is a minimal contact sport." .