Armenian soccer fans and Facebook users have been inundating the social networking website with messages demanding that a Spanish referee who officiated the Ireland v Armenia Euro-2012 qualifier be banned from the profession for life for his “bad decisions” on the pitch.

The outcry reflects the deep frustration in Armenia over the outcome of the October 11 game in Dublin in which many here believe the referee deprived their side of making it to the playoff stage.

Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez, a 44-year-old referee who officiated the match, showed a red card to Armenia’s goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky in the 26th minute of the first half for a handball outside the penalty area, an offense for which the veteran Armenian player was sent off the pitch. Replays, however, showed Berezovsky blocking the shot with his chest. Moreover, an Irish player later admitted that he himself handled in controlling the long ball before shooting, making Berezovksy’s purported foul a moot point. Many believe the moment predetermined the outcome of the qualifier that went 2-1 to the Irish team.

In an open letter addressed to Michel Platini, a former French player and current President of European soccer’s governing body UEFA, Armenia fans stated their case against what they view as Gonzalez’s unfair officiating.

“Armenia was battling for Euro-2012 for the first time and because of the referee lost that opportunity,” the fans said on Facebook. “As a world famous football player and a social figure we expect your interference. UEFA must punish referee Gonzalez and deprive him of the opportunity to continue his practice.”

Earlier, also on Facebook, President of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) Ruben Hayrapetyan wrote that a protest has been lodged over the referee’s decision on Berezovsky.

He made it clear, however, that Armenian soccer authorities sought to clear the veteran goalkeeper of the red card rather than “punish the ignorant [ref]”. At the same time, the FFA chief dispelled all suspicions existing among some specialists and ordinary fans in Armenia about possible UEFA “foul play” to favor the Irish team so as to offset the devilish referee mistake in 2009 that left the Boys in Green outside the World Cup. He described Platini as a man of integrity and effectively ruled out any possible corrupt practice.

Meanwhile, frustrated fans in Armenia have been looking for ways to give vent to their anger. An online game translated as “Throw Eduardo Gonzalez” (the Spanish Ref) has appeared and seems to be getting quite popular among Armenian internet users. (Click here for a shot at the embattled referee http://gonzalez.copypaste.am/#.TpWV7wlvEmY.twitter)