Zeljko Petrovic caused a stir on Tuesday evening when he stormed onto the field after a missed penalty from his Iraq to take the ball from one of his players. He wanted to start again after a miss from the penalty spot.
That went down the wrong way with Petrovic, who is talking with The Telegraph indicates that the player in question was not on the list to take a penalty kick. “When he again stood with the ball in his hands – the keeper moved too early – I intervened. I couldn’t reach my players and then went to show them who’s boss. I was an assistant to Dick Advocaat, “But now the head coach. And then leadership is asked. Hasan Abdulkareem scored, making us play 1-1 and keeping perspective to continue in the Arab Cup.”
Petrovich, when he entered the stadium, told him that it was not Ramadan ????
#Oman_Iraq pic.twitter.com/i0c9PTQEWU
— Jamal Suleiman Al-Kamshi (@JamalOman557) November 30, 2021
Petrovic decided to apologize in the locker room after the game. “I apologized because it shouldn’t be. Everyone was amazed, including the referee, because I didn’t get any red or yellow, not even a warning. I’m not happy or proud of it, but it helped.”
Partly due to Petrovic’s intervention, Iraq managed to draw 1-1 against Oman in the debut of the coach.
????️ #Iraq boss Željko Petrović addressing the players after yesterday’s game with Oman.#FIFArabCup [???? @IRAQFA] pic.twitter.com/6OGnHFUvQB
— Soccer Iraq (@SoccerIraq) December 1, 2021
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