Shakhtar boss calls on fans to intimidate the ref in return Arsenal clash

Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu has launched an extraordinary attack on the Norwegian referee who officiated his team's 5 - 1 drubbing by Arsenal last week.

He claimed Scandinavian referees "always" favour English teams, due to Anglo-Saxon bias.

And he called on his Ukrainian fans to "pressure" match officials when Arsenal play the return game in Donetsk on November 3.

In comments which may get him into trouble with UEFA, the Romanian lambasted referee Svein Moen saying: "It was easy to be in Arsenal's situation when they are gifted at least two goals.

"Their opener was 100 per cent offside with the Arsenal player more than a yard ahead.

"Also there should have been no penalty when they scored their third."

He blasted: "I have enough experience in Europe to be surprised with such refereeing.

"If games involving English teams are officiated by Scandinavians, the refs' sympathies are always going to be on their side.

"They share the same Anglo-Saxon culture.

"Many of their referees are even educated in England."

He vowed: "I am sure the return leg will be quite different.

"I would like our supporters to learn - and put the same kind of pressure on the officials as the Gunners' fans did when that penalty against us was awarded."