Ex ref demands UEFA investigate Rangers penalty incident vs Bilbao as Sherlock Holmes routine sparks shock

A former referee has demanded that UEFA investigate how Rangers had a penalty awarded against them vs Athletic Bilbao.

Defender Dujon Sterling was deemed to have handled the ball during the Europa League quarter final clash vs Athletic Bilbao. Liam Kelly ensured it was not punished by saving the spot kick and Rangers rode out the game to a 0-0 going into leg two, having played much of the first with 10 men after Robin Propper’s red card.

Keith Hackett has turned Sherlock Holmes and started to investigate the clip where Sterling gave away the penalty. The former Premier League referee says there was no clarity in the evidence he watched to suggest a deliberate action.

Ex referee’s Rangers demand of UEFA

Now he wants to see Europe’s footballing hierarchy intervene. He told Ibrox News: “I hope that the incident where a goal was ruled out for offside and then a penalty kick awarded is investigated. I have studied the clip several times, and I do not see the clarity in the video replays to determine with accuracy either decision.

“I can only suggest that the game was using the semi-automated offside system to determine the offside decision. To award a penalty kick, I do not see a deliberate action to be able to determine with certainty that the alleged handling of the ball was deliberate.”

Hackett also thinks referee Istvan Kovacs may have officiated his last Europa League game this season after having to use VAR to upgrade Robin Propper’s initial booking for a last man challenge to a red. He added: “Rangers can have no complaints with the decision of the referee to send off Robin Proper after he committed an offence that denied the opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

“VAR intervention allowed the referee a second look to deliver the correct decision, rightly overturning his initial yellow card. UEFA operate a strict regime with regard to the delivery of performance. The officials on the Elite panel are the very best referees in their country. If a referee in a UEFA game gets a key major incident decision wrong, then he is unlikely to receive a further appointment for the remainder of the season.”

Sterling blow

The penalty against him was a double whammy for Sterling, who has also picked up a serious Achilles injury. Interim manager Barry Ferguson said live on Sky Sports: “He’s going to be long-term, he’s a serious one. He’s come in and I think he’s been immense for me at the back. He’s had his injury issues and now he’ll need to suffer another lengthy time on the sidelines, which I’m devastated about.

“But listen, that’s football, we need to move on. We’ll get round about Dujon because he’s a popular member of the dressing room. He’s been a big player for me and we just need to make sure we get him back fit as quickly as we can. I don’t know exactly how long he will be out for but I mean long term. I’m no medical expert but I’ve spoken to the doctor, he’ll go for surgery on Monday and we’ll just need to wait and see how that surgery goes.”