Famed former FIFA referee Keith Hackett has been left dumbfounded by the decision to deny Rangers a penalty in their 2-0 Europa League defeat to Athletic Bilbao.
Cyriel Dessers was incensed when whistler Irfan Peljto played on at 0-0 after Dani Vivian almost ripped the shirt off the back of the Nigeria international.
And the fury boiled over when Dessers realised the man in the middle would not be sent to the video screen by his Barry Ferguson official.
The incident received widespread condemnation from pundits, Barry Ferguson and aghast players at the final whistle.
And it has also left one of English football’s most revered officials of all time struggling for answers.
Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett said: “ The shirt pull should really have been picked up by VAR, who should then have sent the referee to the monitor.
“It is difficult to understand why this clear offence was not acted upon and a penalty kick was not awarded.”
Ferguson reckons Rangers denied a pair of spot kicks after Nico Raskin claimed for a second-half handball – another shout which was quickly overlooked.
“We should have had two penalties. The first one changes the dynamic of the game.
“It’s a clean pull on Cyriel and a clear red card. If they go down to ten men that changes the full game and it baffles me at times some of the decisions.
“Then the second one, in the second-half with Nico, when the defender’s hand is out and the ball strikes it. That’s another penalty.
“The fourth official wasn’t willing to speak to me and I wasn’t going to get a booking myself. Then Cyriel comes off to change his strip and gets a yellow card when he throws it.
“Look, I’m not going to tip-toe around it, everybody in this room and everybody who watched it knows it was a penalty kick and a red card.
“So it’s disappointing that the referee hasn’t made the right decision. But the second one is clear as day as well.
“Before Nico strikes it, it clearly hits the player’s hand. It’s frustrating we didn’t get both penalties.”
King of referees triggers Rangers VAR mega rage as ‘clear offence’ sparks dumbfounded reaction to HQ
