UEFA Cup Final: Wenger criticism no barrier for referee

Published on Tuesday 13 May 2008 23:09

JUST ask Celtic how vital a part the referee can play in a Uefa Cup final, with Martin O'Neill still smarting over the impact Slovakian referee Lubos Michel had on his side's attempt to win the trophy against Porto in 2003.

O'Neill was furious that Michel did not stamp down on play-acting and time-wasting by Jose Mourinho's players, while the 34-year-old referee also sent-off Bobo Balde in extra-time. Rangers manager Walter Smith will hope Peter Frojdfeldt is not found wanting at the City of Manchester stadium tonight.

Aged 44, the Swedish referee has already tasted officiating at a big European game in the North-west of England this season. It did not go altogether smoothly.

Frojdfeldt sparked some controversy when he awarded a late penalty to Liverpool in their Champions League quarter-final tie against Arsenal at Anfield. Kolo Toure appeared to make contact with Ryan Babel in the box at the Kop end and Steven Gerrard dispatched the penalty to set Liverpool on their way to the semi-finals. Arsenal manager Arsne Wenger expressed his disappointment at the decision, describing it as "dodgy". But Frojdfeldt, who will referee at the European Championship finals next month, said he had no doubts about the award.

Frojdfeldt hails from Eskilstuna in southern Sweden and took up refereeing when his father-in-law asked him to step in at the last minute for a minor league game. He made his debut in Sweden's top league in 1997 and in 2005 was voted the country's top referee.