European Championship U21 - England plan Hart appeal

Eurosport - Sat, 27 Jun 14:54:00 2009

England will appeal against the yellow card that rules U21 goalkeeper Joe Hart out of the European Championship final on Monday.

FOOTBALL 2009 European U21 Championships Sweden's Marcus Berg scores equaliser against England in semi-final - 0

Hart was booked during the penalty shoot-out at Gothenburg's Gamla Ullevi against hosts Sweden, apparently for speaking at the spot-kick takers.

"Nobody talked," Hart said. "Neither of us were speaking, it was a silent shoot-out."

Hart's caution was the sour note to the finale of a match where England, and Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce, ended their semi-final spot-kick hoodoo.

Pearce lost twice at the last-four stage as a player, then two years ago when coaching his youngsters.

On this occasion, James Milner skied his effort after slipping but Hart scored and saved from Marcus Berg before Guillermo Molins hit the post to ensure a 5-4 win for England.

Hart's booking still overshadowed the achievement, with Pearce planning to appeal, even though UEFA usually only overturn decisions if it is a case of mistaken identity.

"The referee told me not to speak so I didn't," Hart added.

"Then he's pulled out a yellow card. I'm sure he's got his reasons, but hopefully I'll still be able to play. I'm not going to hold my breath though."

After 120 minutes, the two sides were locked at 3-3. Martin Cranie, Nedum Onuoha and an own goal from Mattias Bjarsmyr had given England a half-time lead but Sweden staged a stunning second-half comeback where Berg scored twice and Ola Toivonen added another.

"The game on Monday is the one. We have come to win it, and we have one team standing in our way. It is the furthest I have been. It is now down to who has the guts to win it," Pearce added.

"We should have put the game to bed. Too many had an eye on the final and wanted to let others do their work for them. I was disappointed the manner that we chucked away the lead."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 19 of 19

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  1. MY OPINION
    ITALY THE BEST TEAM I SAW IN THIS ­ COMPETITION ! GOOD FOOTBALL BUT VERY UNLUCKY
    SPAIN ­ GOOD TEAM AND UNLUCKY
    ENGLAND NOT TOO BAD
    GERMANY VERY­ LUCKY
    SERBIA better than germany but out
    BELARUS, ­ better than germany but out
    SWEDEN
    FINLAND

    From , on Sun 28 Jun 9:42AM

  2. Donney is not a jock ,, he is a P rick ,,
    simple as­ that we also call him a C ock suka :)

    From Robert G, on Sat 27 Jun 5:35PM

  3. WHY DONT YOU ROLL YOUR NECK IN DOONY
    YOU­ SAP..COME ON ENGLAND!!!

    From Martin, on Sat 27 Jun 3:51PM

  4. If actually Hart was talking to the Player, then he­ deserved to be booked. Aterall, he is not the only­ keeper in the England squad.

    From Flex, on Sat 27 Jun 3:46PM

  5. is it not unsporting for the ref to book himduring a­ penalty shootout?? surely that has an effect... god­ damn cheating fifa!lol!

    From COLIN, on Sat 27 Jun 2:30PM

  6. All English speaking nations are hated by FIFA,
    Just­ think England, it could be worse, you could be the­ USA
    and get the FIFA = Fraud Red Card every game.

    From BillA, on Sat 27 Jun 2:15PM

  7. The Swedish keeper was doing just as much but­ didn't get booked, why not?

    From Myway, on Sat 27 Jun 1:43PM

  8. Donney - you are stereotyping yourself - support­ England, it will do you good !!!!

    From jacqueline270, on Sat 27 Jun 1:27PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    AHVE BEEN STRUCK BY . . . A SMOOTH CRIMINAL . .

    DO ­ DO DO DO . . DO DO DO DO. DO .. DO ..D DO . .­ ..

    EEEEK . . . . . AOOOW . . .

    From JEEMS, on Sat 27 Jun 1:14PM

  10. why was the same ref used in this game, that was in a­ previous England game, that is absolutely ridiculous,­ should not have happened, but thats FIFA for ya, always­ against England

    From tastybits, on Sat 27 Jun 1:05PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    A HOPE ANGLUND GAT BET . CAZ OM A SCOTCH BYE OND US­ SCOTCH BYES UR NAT SAPOSED TAY LEEK ANGLUND.

    From Donney, on Sat 27 Jun 1:03PM

  12. Joe Hart deserved to be booked. He showed unsporting­ behaviour during the shoot out pulling stupid faces­ trying to put the penalty takers off. Nothing in the­ rules to say he can't, but it is unsporting. Good­ decision referee.

    From spoony10000, on Sat 27 Jun 1:02PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    in my opinion the best european' team u21 is­ Italy!! but they are out!! this is the football!!!

    From , on Sat 27 Jun 12:33PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    he's a prat and deserves to be suspended.
    he let­ in 3 goals and only saved one penalty (and he dived the­ wrong way and it hit his feet).

    From fergie, on Sat 27 Jun 12:04PM

  15. Paul T - Hart clearly lined up the wall correctly it­ was the fact that none of them decided to jump that led­ to the goal, if they did the shot would have been­ blocked! Agree with the yellow though - should have­ known better

    From poundfine, on Sat 27 Jun 11:23AM

  16. Another political decision by FIFA and EUFA to prevent­ England winning anything it's been happening for­ years get used to it.

    From Ronsenglish, on Sat 27 Jun 11:15AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    BILLIE JEAN IS NOT MA LUVER . . . AOOOOW . . .

    . .­ . . EEEEEEEK . . . .

    From JEEMS, on Sat 27 Jun 11:07AM

  18. Too keep poking his tongue out right in front of the­ ref he must have known he was going to get booked. And­ to do it whilst already on a yellow is just crazy. Also­ he needs to learn how to line a wall up correctly but­ thats another point. Fnatastic pen he took him self­ though.

    From Paul T, on Sat 27 Jun 10:54AM

  19. Joe Hart was the only English player on that pitch who­ actually deserved to be in the final, after the team­ decided to stop playing after about an hour. That­ booking was just plain rediculous, I thought it was­ common knowledge that a keeper does all he can to­ un-nerve the penalty taker. By this logic Jersey Dudek­ should not have been on the pitch past the second­ penalty in the 2005 Champions League final.

    From davidman, on Sat 27 Jun 10:43AM
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