European play-offs: Officials 'apologised profusely' after shootout controversy - Baxter
- Published
Michael Ruddy's final Crusaders penalty clearly crossed the line but it wasn't spotted by the match officials
Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter says he accepts an apology from the officials after they failed to spot that a penalty had crossed the line in the European play-off loss to Cliftonville.
Michael Ruddy's spot-kick hit the bar and bounced down over the line but the officials deemed it a miss to leave the Reds 5-4 winners in the shootout.
"Television will show it's two foot over the line," said Baxter.
"But when people show honesty and integrity I can't say a lot more."
The semi-final at Solitude finished goalless after extra-time and the first nine penalties in the shoot-out were scored before the controversial Ruddy spot-kick.
It's the second controversial shootout exit for the Crues in a month after keeper Jonathan Tuffey was sent-off for repeatedly coming off the line in the Irish Cup semi-final against Larne.
Crusaders appealed against their Irish Cup semi-final result but their plea was rejected and the final went ahead with Linfield beating Larne.
While exiting from the play-offs means the his club miss out on the possibility of earning £200,000 for European qualification, Baxter appeared to hint that there will be no appeal by the Crues on this occasion after he said that the apologies of the match officials "is sufficient for me".
BBC Sport NI understands that club officials take a similar view to Baxter on Tuesday night's events so it appears that the issue is now closed with Cliftonville going ahead of Saturday's play-offs final against Larne.
Declan Caddell consoles a dejected Michael Ruddy after the shootout defeat by Cliftonville
In Tuesday night's play-off, the assistant referee was standing on the line but didn't see the ball cross the line and referee Raymond Crangle ended the game to spark Cliftonville celebrations.
"It's incredibly difficult when you lose a penalty shootout in the manner we have lost it - and when you get to the very last penalty and it goes against you it's a very hard one to take," added Baxter.
"The only thing I will say is that both the referee and linesman have apologised profusely to me and the linesman (on the line) particularly.
"It's more difficult when it's hit at pace for the naked eye to see it because you are looking down on the angle towards the goal from his position.
"I accept his apology around it - the ball was hit so quick, it bounces off it (the ground). He should see it but his honesty and his honesty is sufficient for me because it could happen to anybody and I believe him."