Copenhagen manager Jacob Neestrup has dismissed Hearts’ complaints over a controversial penalty decision, insisting it ultimately didn’t impact the outcome of the match.
The Scottish side were left frustrated after Copenhagen were awarded a late penalty in Thursday night’s Europa Conference League clash. Leading 1-0, Hearts saw their advantage slip when Craig Gordon was penalized for a contentious foul on Amin Chiakha in the box. Referee Andrea Colombo awarded the spot-kick following a VAR review, sparking outrage from Hearts boss Neil Critchley and goalkeeper Gordon, who believed the decision was unwarranted.
Kevin Diks converted the penalty, securing a 2-0 win for the Danish side and leaving Hearts with little chance of recovery. Critchley described the decision as “really poor,” while Gordon expressed disbelief that he was punished instead of being awarded a free-kick.
Neestrup Defends Penalty Decision
Neestrup, however, dismissed Hearts’ grievances, maintaining that the penalty call was correct and arguing that Copenhagen would have won regardless.
“I think it’s a penalty,” said Neestrup. “Amin touched the ball, and then the goalkeeper collided with him. To be honest, as I told the Danish media, it’s ridiculous to focus on that penalty because it wasn’t decisive. We would’ve won that game nine out of ten times anyway.”
Highlighting Copenhagen’s Dominance
Neestrup further emphasized his team’s control throughout the match, pointing to a clear quality gap between the sides.
“With all respect, we dominated from start to finish,” he said. “We expected more resistance, but that’s not to disrespect Hearts – they’re a great club with a strong team. However, we played at a very high level and demonstrated the difference between FC Copenhagen and Hearts.”
Neestrup also reflected on Copenhagen’s previous home performances, which had seen them drop points despite similar dominance. “This game mirrored our matches against Jagiellonia and Istanbul, where we only managed one point. We needed these three points because we’d dropped five in our last two home games,” he added.
