Martin O’Neill couldn’t contain his anger at referee David Borbalan after Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Austria.
The result leaves Ireland on top of Group D but it remains a four way fight involving Wales and Serbia for the one place in next summer’s World Cup Finals.
Ireland were well off the pace as they trailed 1-0 at the interval but roared back after the break and could have had a winner from Shane Duffy after Jon Walters late equaliser.
After the draw O’Neill told the Independent: “I think the referee was very poor. I didn’t think we got a decision all day.
“He wasn’t the most contributing factor to us playing poorly in the first half. I think we have to put that down to ourselves. Any decisions seemed to go their way.
“Their goal for what it’s worth, we still have to defend the corner kick, but their goal came as a consequence of a hand-ball down the pitch.
“We were fantastic in the second half in terms of energy and drive and determination and we got a legitimate goal chalked off. The referee hasn’t not been great today for us.
“I think the big centre-half from Austria said, Prodl said, out there, had it been the other way around, they would have been disappointed if it wasn’t allowed.”
Asked if Duffy has led with his arm when scoring, O’Neill added: “I think there might have been a player called Andy Gray who wouldn’t have scored a goal if you were not allowed (lead with your arm).
“They would have taken all those 400 goals off him.”
Following Ireland’s draw with Austria, Serbia and Wales also drew 1-1 leaving Group D largely unaltered although the Welsh and Austrians will be the happier sides with those results.
In their next match Ireland travel to Georgia on September 2 followed three days later by the visit of Serbia to Dublin.
The fixtures are completed with a home match against Moldova before the final match away to Wales on October 9.
