BOJAN MIOVSKI and Aberdeen may already be out of European competition this season.
But he still managed to make England fans RAGING as he won a controversial penalty for his country in their final fixture of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
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Gareth Southgate‘s side headed to Southeastern Europe to take on the nation ranked 66th in the Fifa rankings.
The Three Lions were heavy favourites but with qualification for Germany already secured, Southgate left the likes of Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford on the bench while Jude Bellingham was rested and absent from the match day squad altogether.
With some other experienced names left at home, it gave Manchester City starlet Rico Lewis the chance to impress on his debut.
But his maiden start turned into a bit of a nightmare when he was adjudged to have fouled the Miovski in the box in the 38th minute.
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A lofted ball into the penalty area saw Lewis caught 1v1 with Miovski and he jumped to clear the ball, heading it away from danger.
In doing so his arm brushed against the Aberdeen striker, who hit the deck holding his face.
The referee initially opted not to point to the spot but he was called to the monitor and reversed his decision after the VAR interventions.
Commentating on the match for Channel 4, ex-Celtic and Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin said: “There’s a hand in the face but there’s nothing in that at all.
“He gets his head on it, that can’t be a penalty, surely?
“He’s not even looking at his man.
“Yes, he’s got his arms out but there’s no elbow, a hand in the face I get that but this is football, it’s a contact sport.
“Surely not?”
Analysing the match at pitch side was former England goalkeeper Rob Green.
He labelled the call as BONKERS as he let rip at the officiating team in Skopje.
Green said: “This is bonkers, it is unbelievable.
“Lewis has gone up to head the ball, and his arm has flicked out as he jumped, naturally his arms will go up into the air.
“He has only slightly flicked the player in the eye.
“A rubbish decision, it is re-refereeing.
“Unfortunate, nothing more. It has tarnished an otherwise great first-half performance from Rico Lewis.”
Writing on Twitter, former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher juxtaposed the decision to award this penalty with failure to penalise Manchester Untied star Harry Maguire for an earlier push on Elif Elmas.
He said: “Bizarre these VAR penalties that get given in Europe. What’s more bizarre is they didn’t give the one against Maguire!”
The ex-footie star was joined by scores of fans who called out the officials over the controversial call.
One punter remarked: “That might be the worst penalty decision I’ve ever seen.”
Another said: “That is one of the most absurd penalty decisions I have ever seen. Astounding.”
A third added: “Ludicrous penalty decision. One that is only given because of VAR. Wasn’t given on field and is only overturned after forensic analysis at the monitor. Rico Lewis essentially penalised for out jumping a player nearly double his size.”
England slumped to a 1-1 draw against the North Macedonians, with Jani Atanasov putting the ball into his own net after Enis Bahrdi scored for the hosts.
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The penalty itself was MISSED by Bahrdi but he fired home on the rebound to put his team in front.
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