An "angry" Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny has expressed his disappointment with referee Deniz Aytekin over Legia Warsaw's first goal.
The Polish champions defeated Dundalk in the Champions League Play-Off Round, with the first goal coming from the penalty spot after Andy Boyle handled the ball in the box.
"I am very disappointed", Kenny revealed after the game. "It's a really appalling decision to swing the game."
"The shot is going wide. Gary Rogers has it covered. There's no way it was going to go in the back of the net. Andy Boyle has thrown himself at it to try and block it".
The Dundalk manager revealed his team had spoken the FAI's Referee National Co-Ordinator John Ward ahead of the game, to make sure the team were prepared for a foreign referee. Kenny claimed that Aytekin made a mistake with the Boyle handball.
"His hand is not in a unnatural position. His arm is close to his body. It's certainly not a penalty."
"In the historical context of football in Ireland, and the importance of this game and its ramifications, to give a penalty like that was hugely disappointing. It's hard to believe."
Kenny called the 2-0 loss as "extremely harsh" ahead of next week's second leg. As the did in the home leg against BATE Borisov, Dundalk need three goals to book their spot in the Champions League group stages.
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