Europa League: Moyes apologizes for red card as Rice blames referee for defeat by Frankfurt 

The Hammers’ European journey came to an end in Germany on Thursday night

Europa League: Moyes apologizes for red card as Rice blames referee for defeat by Frankfurt 
Moyes

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice said he and his teammates went out of the Europa League “on a high” against Eintracht Frankfurt despite the defeat and criticised the referee's performance.

The Hammers’ European journey came to an end in Germany as Frankfurt backed up their 2-1 first-leg victory in London with another win against David Moyes ’s side on Thursday evening.

West Ham wasn’t helped in the first half when Aaron Cresswell was shown a red card by Jesús Gil Manzano after hauling down Jens Petter Hauge as the last defender.

The hosts didn’t take advantage of the subsequent free-kick on the edge of the box but did go ahead a few moments later as Rafael Santos Borré converted from close range after being found open in the area by Ansgar Knauff.

West Ham pushed in search of a way back into the tie but failed to get things going, with Frankfurt happy to slow the game down with a series of fouls during the second half. Manzano had brandished nine cards to players by full-time, as well as sending Moyes off for remonstrating on the sidelines, with Rice criticising the officials’ performance after.

“The sending off was probably a sending off looking back at it,” said the midfielder. “But some of the other decisions were poor tonight, none seemed to go for us. The referee seemed to make every decision go for them. In the end, when you’ve got someone who is against you, you can’t really do much.”

Meanwhile, Moyes has apologised for kicking a ball at a ball boy after he was sent from the touchline in West Ham’s acrimonious Europa League semi-final defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.

He said: “I’m disappointed but extremely proud of the players’ performance, especially with 10 men.

“Many teams would have crumbled and lost by two or three but we kept having a go and tried to create some opportunities.

“I have to apologise for kicking the ball, but the ball boy left it short and it was nicely on the volley for me. But I apologised for it.”

Moyes was critical of the Eintracht coaching staff for their reaction to the initial decision to show Cresswell a yellow card, before a VAR check condemned him to a second red card in three European appearances.

“I thought it wasn’t great officiating tonight, but I think Aaron’s given the referee a decision to make,” added Moyes.

“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.”

The build-up to the match had been marred by arrests around the city for scuffles between fans, and it ended in near bedlam with thousands of Eintracht fans streaming onto the pitch with flares at the final whistle, before riot police and dogs restored some semblance of order.

Moyes said: “I do feel our supporters have travelled all over and tonight was disappointing. I thought we were the better team over the first 15 mins and the sending off completely altered how the game was going to go.

“But I must congratulate Eintracht Frankfurt. We lost the game when they scored in the first 40 seconds at the London Stadium and we’ve been chasing the game ever since.”