Russia boss Dick Advocaat is concerned that UEFA have appointed a Belgian referee for tomorrow’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Slovakia.
Advocaat quit as manager of Belgium earlier this year after just six months in charge leaving them in the lurch ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
Once Belgium’s hopes of qualifying for the South African World Cup had ended Advocaat took charge for the final two qualifiers before re-signing in April leaving the Belgians searching for a new boss.
Advocaat quickly returned to international football as manager of Russia with the Russians concerned that referee Frank de Bleeker will be in charge against Slovakia tomorrow night.
One Russian newspaper quizzed de Bleeker about the appointment of a Belgian referee for the game.
De Bleeker, who has refereed at the World Cup and European Championship finals, replied saying: “How could you even ask me that, I don’t think that is a very good question, I don’t even know Dick Advocaat.”
Announcing Advocaat’s resignation a Belgian FA (URBSFA) statement read: “The federation’s president Francois De Keersmaecker was informed this Thursday April 15 at 1415 hours by national team coach Dick Advocaat that the latter was breaking his contract which linked him to the URBSFA with immediate effect.
“The Belgian football federation will contact their lawyers to study the consequences it will give to this matter.
“The URBSFA management, who were surprised by this announcement, will abstain from any comments at this moment and, since they do not know all the factors, the URBSFA will now reflect on what future steps they will take.”
Russia started their campaign with a less than convincing 2-0 win away to Andora on Friday.
After facing Vladimir Weiss’s Slovakia the Russian’s travel to Dublin to face Ireland on October 8.
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Small potatoes (tatties), can you imagine the fuss if the guy was called Murphy??!!??
Sorry, that of course should read ‘pommes frittes’ and ‘Dhr Van Der Murphy’.