Referee mistakes admitted

TWO shambolic refereeing decisions that cost Scotland qualification for major tournaments can today be revealed as official MISTAKES.

This week the News of the World infiltrated a top UEFA refs’ conference, at which whistlers highlighted the key moments they got wrong.

Refs were shown gaffes on video as examples of how not to handle games — and the two biggest howlers BOTH KO’d Scotland:

BLUNDER ONE: Spanish ref Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez gave Italy a free kick from which they scored an 89th minute winner at Hampden to end our chances of qualification for Euro 2008. The refs this week agreed the foul SHOULD have been awarded to Scotland.

BLUNDER TWO: Lubos Michel failed to give Scotland a penalty against Croatia in a World Cup 2002 qualifier as Igor Stimac fouled Don Hutchison — which the whistlers again agreed was the wrong call.

The revelations came during a six-day meeting at the five-star Hotel Torrequebrada in Benalmadena, Spain, attended by 98 top refs.