Martin O'Neill hoping to finally get revenge for Leicester's defeat to Atletico Madrid 20 years ago
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Martin O’Neill could get the revenge he has been waiting 20 years for on Tuesday night.
O’Neill has never forgiven French ref Remi Harrel for the huge part he played in Leicester’s UEFA Cup defeat at home to Atletico Madrid.
Atletico are back at Leicester in the Champions League with another ref’s controversial decision having already upset the Foxes.
Marc Albrighton’s foul on Antoine Griezmann was outside the box but Swedish official Jonas Eriksson gave the penalty for Griezmann to score and bring a 1-0 quarter-final lead to the King Power Stadium.
It brought back the memories of Leicester being at home to Atletico in September 1997 with Ian Marshall’s away goal in a 2-1 first leg defeat telling O’Neill they could pull of a huge shock.
Atletico were the big spenders of Europe with super stars Juninho and Christian Vieri in their side but O’Neill fancied his chances.
(Photo: REUTERS)
(Photo: PA)
(Photo: Getty Images Europe)
“People forget we had some really decent players,” says O’Neill. “Neil Lennon, Muzzy Izzet and whatever you say about Robbie Savage, and I said a lot, he did wonderfully.
“Sav was always in the side, whatever he was moaning about. But that referee, honestly.
“We had qualified by winning the League Cup and ended up playing Atletico Madrid who are just spending fortunes at that time.
“And we still should have got through. The referee, to me, he gave us nothing at Filbert Street. We should have had penalties. I swear to God. I’m not joking.
“I don’t think he ever refereed another European game after that.”
Harrel sent off Atletico’s Juan Lopez but then Leicester’s Garry Parker went as well for two yellow cards, the second one for taking a free kick too early.
(Photo: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
(Photo: Getty Images Europe)
O’Neill was incensed. There were claims for three Leicester penalties all turned down and with the game at 10-a-side Atletico won 2-0, 4-1 on aggregate.
Harrel was struck off by UEFA after his performance in the East Midlands but did get back to take charge of two more UEFA Cup games over the next two seasons.
“I’d left Leicester when the club last played in Europe in 2000-01 under Peter Taylor,” adds O’Neill.
“But we had a fine side with centre halves like Steve Walsh and Matty Elliott.
“Elliott is as good a centre half as has played in the last 20 years, as good as any centre half playing in today’s football.
“Those decisions by that referee on that day denied players like him a decent run in European football. I trust it doesn’t happen again to these Leicester players.”