It hasn't been a great week for England's two most high-profile ex-Ireland internationals, Jack Grealish and Declan Rice.
On Wednesday in Madrid, Jack Grealish's introduction to the Real Madrid-Man City Champions League semifinal coincided with a revival from Los Blancos. Arsene Wenger claimed Grealish was at fault for the two goals that sent the game to added time.
Madrid would win the tie in extra time.
Then last night, Declan Rice's West Ham side came up short against Eintracht Frankfurt in their Europa League semifinal. Aaron Cresswell and David Moyes were both sent off and Eintracht won the match 1-0 and the tie 3-1.
West Ham were not happy with the performance of referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
Footage from the tunnel has emerged from Fox Sports Mexico and it shows West Ham captain Declan Rice making strong accusations about the refereeing last night.
Declan Rice was incandescent with the refs last night
Se dan cuenta hasta en Europa. Gil Manzano y sus cosas. pic.twitter.com/s7G8mLHT7w
— Imanol Echegaray G. 🐢 (@imanoleg_) May 6, 2022
Rice can be heard saying:
"Ref! Ref! It's so poor. All night. It's so bad. How can you be that bad? Honestly. How you can be that bad?"
"Honestly, you’ve probably been f****** paid. F****** corruption.”
Once the referee's report is sent to UEFA, we will learn if there are sanctions to come for Rice.
West Ham players and supporters were non-plussed by the performance of the ref, but mentioning 'corruption' and suggesting the refs might have been paid are surefire ways to get fined and suspended.
Rice's former Ireland teammate and current West Ham teammate Darren Randolph has a hilarious cameo in the video, as he blankly strolls ahead of an angry Rice.
Both the Cresswell and Moyes offenses were nailed-on reds. The West Ham manager was, sent to the showers for booting a ball from the ballboy.
Speaking about the ref, Moyes said:
"I thought it wasn't great officiating tonight, but I think Aaron's given the referee a decision to make."
"I was more disappointed with the bench of Eintracht Frankfurt. You don't react in that way. Maybe that's what we need to do. We do it by Queensbury rules. And it comes back to haunt you."
In Spain, Manzano has reputation for putting himself at the centre of attention. He has given out 136 yellow cards and seven reds in 33 games this season.
The Spanish ref had a handshake attempt famously snubbed by Leo Messi after a Barca match in 2018.
SEE ALSO: Arsene Wenger Thinks Jack Grealish Played Major Role In Man City's Madrid Collapse
