Sepsi officials file complaint over refereeing after draw with Oțelul

Sepsi failed to secure a victory against Oțelul, settling for a 1-1 draw after conceding a penalty goal in the 90+3 minute. While the penalty awarded to the home side was deemed correct, Sepsi officials strongly criticized other refereeing decisions made during the match.

Attila Hadnagy, the general director of Sepsi OSK, announced that the club would submit a formal memorandum to the Central Commission of Arbiters. Hadnagy expressed frustration with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team, stating that they were inactive until the late penalty incident.

Hadnagy pointed to specific incidents he believed were mishandled. He argued that Oțelul player Silva should have been ejected in the 14th minute for a clear foul. Additionally, he claimed Sepsi deserved a penalty in the 49th minute after Christopoulos allegedly injured Silaghi.

The match was officiated by referee Florin Andrei, assisted by Mircea Grigoriu and Cosmin Bojan. The VAR team consisted of Bogdan Dumitrache and Eugen Gheorghe. Hadnagy specifically directed criticism at Dumitrache for his performance.

Sepsi head coach Ovidiu Burcă also commented on the officiating, suggesting that teams which exert more pressure on referees often gain an advantage. Burcă recalled a previous match against Voluntari where he felt similar officiating issues occurred.

The result leaves both teams in difficult form. Oțelul has now gone eight consecutive matches without a win, collecting only three points in that period. Sepsi has managed just two points from its last five games.

Looking ahead, Sepsi faces a crucial home match against FC Voluntari. Hadnagy described the upcoming fixture as vital for the club's battle to avoid relegation, noting the need to recover from a recent heavy defeat.