Cyriel Dessers demanded a penalty after Dani Vivian tore his shirt in the box during the early exchanges of Rangers’ clash with Athletic Club in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals. The penalty was not given and Rangers went on to lose 2-0 in a game that may have ended differently had VAR intervened – something TNT Sports expert Ally McCoist could not believe didn’t happen
Rangers were denied a penalty early in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final with Athletic Club after Cyriel Dessers’ shirt was ripped open by Dani Vivian, with Ally McCoist questioning why VAR didn’t get involved.
Dessers leaped up outraged, showing the referee a gaping hole in his shirt, but instead, the forward ended up with a yellow card himself.
It proved a criticial moment as Athletic Club claimed a 2-0 victory on the night, progressing to the semi-finals 3-1 on aggregate.
Ex-Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst was among those demanding an explanation during the half-time analysis.
“It was a very good transition moment, he was a little bit unlucky with the ball but he’s getting pulled, his shirt is damaged,” van Bronckhorst queried.
“So for this penalty, I just want to know the explanation from the ref.”
Asked whether it should also have been a red card, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton added: “Yes I think so. For me, it is definitely a penalty.”
Hutton cited Arsenal being awarded a spot-kick against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday when Mikel Merino was dragged down by Raul Asencio.
If anybody who had seen the Real Madrid game last night and the shirt pull as [Thibaut] Courtois was coming out for the ball, and it was given.”
After the game TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist added: “The better team of the two has gone through, it was going to take a lot of things going in Rangers favour for them to get through.”
On the shirt rip incident, he said: “I can understand that maybe the referee didn’t see it, but the lad that is sat in VAR should be asked the question ‘what are you thinking about, what are you doing tonight.’ You are officially not doing your job.”
The score was even at the time of the challenge, but the away side went up one just before half-time with a goal from Oihan Sancet.
With just 10 minutes left Nico Williams extended the home side’s lead with a header, securing their spot in the semi-finals.
Jasmine Trapnel
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