Corry Evans apologises after wife Lisa calls ref ‘Romanian gypsy c***’ for giving Switzerland outrageous penalty against Northern Ireland
Blackburn star says tweet after World Cup play-off call was 'published in heat of moment and not representative of her views'
CORRY EVANS has 'apologised unreservedly' for his wife's shocking tweet calling a referee a ‘Romanian gypsy c***’
Ref Ovidiu Hategan's outrageous handball decision against Northern Ireland midfielder Evans gifted visitors Switzerland their penalty winner in the World Cup play-off first leg.
Evans' wife Lisa responded by tweeting: "Romanian gypsy c***!! And to actually think Northern Ireland has probably homed one of his smelly relatives!
"Ungrateful t***!! Anyway onwards and upwards #GAWA"
But Blackburn star Evans insists she is not racist.
He released a statment saying: "On behalf of my wife, I would like to apologise unreservedly for the content and language contained in the Tweet that she issued last night.
"The comments were published in the heat of the moment and are not representative of her views."
Lisa later deleted her tweet but not before her comments had been widely circulated and shocked the footbll world.
Evans himself had labelled the spot-kick verdict "disgraceful" - after the ball appeared to hit him on the shoulder as he turned away from a shot
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He is even suspended for the away second leg because Hategan booked him for the incident.
Mild-mannered Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill was dumbfounded by what seemed a major refereeing blunder.
He said: "It is staggering to think that the referee can award a penalty in that situation.
"The referee is five or six yards from the incident, he has nobody in his line of sight.
"Corry has just gone to block it. He's turned his body and the arm isn't in an unnatural position, it isn't away from his body.
"The ball actually hits him more in the back and the top of the shoulder, so it is incredible.
"I thought he has blown for a foul or an offside or something at first, I think it's incredible that he has given it for that. Nobody had claimed for it.
"It's bewildering in this day in age. It's such a vital stage of the game.
"The tackle, the opening tackle, was borderline red card, so the referee did us no favours tonight."
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