Big game referee was once suspended

THE referee for tonight’s Ireland-Slovakia Group D match at Croke Park was once suspended by the Russian Football Federation for poor decision-making.

And Yuri Baskakov was accused of corruption by Hearts earlier this season following their elimination from the UEFA Champions League by AEK Athens. He cleared of any wrong-doing.

The 43-year-old Russian official became involved in a war of words with controversial Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov after two Hearts players were sent off in the second leg of the Champions’ League qualifying tie in Greece, which AEK won 3-0.