Hallgrímsson frustrated by referee decisions in Republic of Ireland defeat to Austria

Heimir Hallgrímsson was left frustrated by several decisions made by referee Irfan Peljto as the Republic of Ireland were beaten 1-0 by Austria in the Nations League in Linz on Saturday.

Ireland's hopes of finishing top of Group B3 and earning promotion to the top tier of the competition were ended by the defeat, which secured first place for Austria.

Substitute Saša Kalajdžić poked home after Ireland failed to clear a corner with a little over 10 minutes remaining.

Ireland created chances of their own, but found Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager in top form.

Caoimhín Kelleher was in good form in the Irish goal too, though, making one particularly fine stop from Christoph Lang in the first half.

Ireland head coach Hallgrímsson was left annoyed by a couple of decisions from Bosnian referee Peljto, though.

Kalajdžić escaped a booking when catching Dara O'Shea with an elbow during an aerial challenge in the second half.

Romano Schmid was booked in the first half for a heavy challenge on O'Shea, but Hallgrímsson felt it should have been a red.

Speaking at a press conference, he said: "I was on a few occasions, let's say, unhappy with the referees this game.

"I thought it was a red card as well when Dara was tackled [by Schmid]. I'm not going to go into the referees, but I think there were things in the game that could have been refereed better than they were.

"I felt they weren't even looking in the VAR room. There was a handball in the first half that I just felt the referee just played the game on without looking at it.

"I think the yellow card on the tackle on Dara was at least worth looking at from that perspective, and the elbow on Dara again.

"There were a few incidents where I've seen given red cards for that, but this was the line and we have to accept that."

Kalajdžić said he had not intended to catch O'Shea during their second-half incident.

Speaking to RTÉ, the LASK striker said: "[O'Shea] said [to the referee] that I elbowed him but I said he pulled me back so that's why I came in this weird position.

"And, also, I'm a little taller than him so my arm is automatically in a different position and awkward position for him, but it wasn't a bad intention and not on purpose. I told him that.

"But he just said, 'I felt your elbow', and obviously I didn't do it on purpose."

If Ireland defeat Kosovo in their final Group B3 game in Dublin on Tuesday, they will secure second spot and a place in pot two for the Euro 2028 qualifying draw, which takes place in December.