Pundits SLAM ‘weak’ penalty given to Turkey in crucial clash with Wales and claim that Kenan Yildiz ‘dived’ for the visitors in 1-1 draw… as Rob Page’s side head for Euro 2024 play-offs

• Turkey were awarded a controversial penalty during their clash with Wales 
• Pundits claimed that Kenan Yildiz ‘dived’ for the visitors during the 1-1 draw 
• Have you witnessed abuse of referees? Contact [email protected] 

Pundits have lamented the ‘weak’ penalty given to Turkey during their 1-1 draw with Wales on Tuesday night. 

Rob Page’s side will head to the Euro 2024 play-offs following the result in Cardiff, after finishing third in their qualifying group – four points behind Croatia. 

The hosts had lead on the night after Neco Williams’ early strike before Turkey drew level in controversial fashion during the second-half. 

In the 70th minute, Turkey’s Kenan Yildiz went down in the penalty area after a light coming together with Wales defender Ben Davies. 

There looked to be minimal contact however the referee pointed to the spot and Yusuf Yazici made no mistake in placing his effort into the back of the net. 

Turkey were awarded a controversial penalty after Kenan Yildiz went down in the penalty area after a coming together with Wales defender Ben Davies 

Yusuf Yazici made no mistake in scoring the spot-kick and earning his point a side on the night

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Speaking on Sky Sports, former Wales forward Robert Earnshaw said: ‘I’m bemused. For me, this is weak. He’s dived pretty much.

‘The three that Wales had turned down looked way more penalty than this.’

‘Unbelievable. He’s literally just nudged him, a weak, weak penalty. Devastating bow as Wales looked solid, this is a very bad decision, very weak. That is very, very poor’.

Meanwhile Nathan Blake, on BBC Radio 5 Live Wales, said: ‘They can feel extremely hard done by, you have to say.

‘The striker, you saw by his reaction, he got up and was screaming like he’d just scored the winner in the 90th minute.’

Rob Page’s team had taken an early lead against Turkey through Neco Williams and with Croatia still drawing 0-0 at home to Armenia, Wales were in second place and heading for a spot at Euro 2024 next summer.

Yet when the Cardiff crowd learned Ante Budimir had given Croatia the lead in the 43rd minute, the bubble burst.

It meant that they no longer qualified automatically and will now face the Euro 2024 play-offs – with Turkey and Croatia finishing first and second respectively. 

The first of their play-off matches will be against Iceland, Finland or Ukraine at home, with the winner to take on Poland or Estonia at a venue to be determined. 

Ben Davies contests with the referee after he was penalised for a challenge in the penalty area

Wales’ players were left incensed by the referee’s decision which ended up costing them

Wales took the lead on the night after a neat combination between Jordan James and Harry Wilson, before Neco Williams drove past Ferdi Kadioglu’s weak challenge and guided his effort into the far corner. 

Brennan Johnson was booked for impeding Abdulkerim Bardakci at a free-kick and then the Tottenham man was extremely unlucky not to be awarded at least one penalty. 

Page was already ticking that his team had not been given a penalty in the first half and he reached boiling point when Turkey earned one for a far milder challenge by Ben Davies on substitute Kenan Yildiz. 

Yazici sent Ward the wrong way from the spot and Wales had to settle for the play-offs. 

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