Russians accuse German ref of bias

Russian media has accused German referee Herbert Fandel of favouring Celtic over Spartak Moscow in their Champions League qualifier and jeopardizing Spartak's chances of reaching the tournament proper.

"Pendal from Fendal," blared yesterday's front-page headline in the mass-selling daily Sovietsky Sport, in a play on the Russian slang word for penalty.

"Fandel's mistakes could knock Spartak out of the Champions League. He disallowed a 'clear' goal by Spartak and also refused to penalise the Scots for a handball four times and award us penalties."

Celtic held Spartak to a 1-1 draw in Moscow in the first leg of their third qualifying round on Wednesday to give themselves an edge ahead of the return leg in Glasgow in two week's time.

"The game of handball by Herr Fandel," said the front-page headline in the other leading sports daily, Sport-Express.

"The referee set a unique record of missing four instances of handball and at the same time he did not count a clear goal by Roman Pavlyuchenko."

Paul Hartley put Celtic ahead in the 21st minute before Pavlyu-chenko levelled three minutes before half-time.