Alious
Rangers’ Europa League journey came to a frustrating end at the hands of Athletic Bilbao on 17 April, as the Scottish side were eliminated in a 2-0 defeat marred by a contentious refereeing decision that has left fans and pundits bewildered.
The quarter-final second leg, held at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium, saw the hosts take the lead just before halftime after John Souttar conceded a penalty. Oihan Sancet made no mistake from the spot, leaving goalkeeper Liam Kelly—who had shone in the first leg—with little chance. Despite a few promising opportunities throughout the match, Rangers couldn’t find a breakthrough. Their hopes were finally dashed in the 80th minute when Nico Williams added a second for the Spanish side.
However, the most talked-about moment of the night wasn’t a goal—it was the penalty Rangers weren’t given.
Clear Penalty Overlooked, Says Journalist
A controversial moment early in the match saw Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers have his shirt visibly pulled in the box by Athletic defender Dani Vivian. The incident appeared blatant, yet both the referee and the VAR officials waved play on. Keith Jackson of the *Daily Record* described the failure to award a penalty as “impossible to explain.”
Speaking on *Hotline Live*, Jackson said: “There’s no justifying why that wasn’t a penalty. Maybe the referee didn’t see it clearly in real time, especially if he thought Dessers went down too easily. But when you see the gaping hole in his shirt—how does VAR not intervene? It’s unbelievable.”
Ferguson’s Frustration at Missed Opportunity
Caretaker manager Barry Ferguson, who stepped in after the departure of Philippe Clement, was visibly frustrated on the sidelines. The penalty denial not only shifted the momentum of the game but also robbed Rangers of a critical chance to equalise and change the narrative of the tie.
Ferguson, whose coaching staff includes ex-players Billy Dodds, Allan McGregor, and Neil McCann, had started to inspire belief among fans with improved performances. Victory over Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the previous round had further fuelled hopes of a deep European run, even if Rangers weren’t considered front-runners for the title.
Despite their underdog status, many believed that Ferguson’s revitalised squad had the grit and spirit to challenge even top-tier La Liga opposition. But with the penalty snub and a resilient Bilbao side capitalising on their chances, that dream came to an end.
Questions Over UEFA’s Officiating Standards
The decision—or lack thereof—has reignited debate over the consistency of officiating in UEFA competitions. Comparisons have already been drawn to other recent incidents, such as the penalty awarded to Real Madrid in their Champions League clash with Arsenal for a similar shirt-pull.
For Rangers, the season is now effectively over, with no trophies left to chase and their European journey halted. What remains is a sense of injustice and a lingering question: in a game of such high stakes, how could such a clear penalty be missed?
Alious
