Philippe Clement has been left furious at full-time after John Beaton’s decision to award Hibs a crucial penalty in the 3-3 draw with Rangers.
John Beaton pointed to the penalty spot with Rangers leading the match 2-1, Ianis Hagi and Josh Campbell having collided whilst tussling for the ball in the Ibrox side’s penalty area.
VAR did not overturn the decision and Martin Boyle scored from the spot to make it 2-2, with Rangers blowing a two goal advantage in the match.
Whilst Rangers would go back ahead with Hamza Igamane completing his hat-trick, Hibs would equalise through Rocky Bashiri who had the freedom of the Gers penalty area to make it 3-3.
The result means Rangers have now recorded only 12 points from a possible 30 away from home in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Speaking at full-time, a furious Philippe Clement has taken aim at John Beaton and revealed he marched into the whistler’s office demanding to know why the foul was given as a penalty.
Philippe Clement furious over Hibs penalty v Rangers
”I’m very disappointed also about conceding a penalty like that,” Clement told Sky Sports.
”Not about the way, but about the decision. It’s just a collision of two players with their hips against each other.
”You cannot say that one makes a foul and the other one not a foul in that moment.
”It’s just a collision of two players and Ianis was been the one a little bit in front maybe and the other player his legs go around him.
”So it’s a game decisive moment and it’s really sore to have that again against you.
“(I went to see the referee) just to hear what the thoughts were of the referee to hear why this penalty is given.
”Because it’s not clear for me or for me it’s never a penalty. It’s from both sides a collision and nothing more, you can give it two ways so you don’t give a penalty in that situation.
”The referee had a different view on it and that’s it.
“So it’s important also to ask an explanation because I need to explain also my players why this is a penalty and if these things happen in the future, why it would be a penalty.
”I don’t see the explanation. Ianis was on the wrong side, it’s not enough in this situation, they both glide into each other.
”(The VAR) is not my job and (the VAR’s decision) probably will be about a clear and obvious error, so in that moment it’s also better not to decide as a referee.
”But the referee was clearly very confident about it.
”I’m curious what the panel will say about this because if these are penalties every time then I need to ask my players with every contact and collision to go down in the box, what I don’t want, because that’s now football should be played.”
Philippe Clement: Rangers need to win more duels
The Rangers manager has also criticised his players for failing to win their duels against Hibs at Easter Road.
Whilst Rangers dominated large periods of the game, the Gers’ lack of physicality was described as ‘glaring’ by Kris Boyd after the match.
Speaking come full-time, Philippe Clement agrees his players need to win more duels but once again highlighted the penalty call.
”Yes and we know in what situation we are with so many players in the defence out with injuries,” said Clement.
”So yeah, on a set piece to losing the duel it’s about winning the duels there because in the game we were the better team.
”In that way this penalty is a really hard one and that last one also in that you lose the duel there.
”It’s managing the game but also these circumstances (the penalty decision) we need to talk about, what we talked about now.
”Those are also really important moments in a game and they create a momentum for the opponent.
”So we need to continue working with the team by playing good football, creating a lot of chances but getting less goals against.
”And other people need to be clear what penalties are also towards us so I can say the right things to my players.
”Because they are totally down now, they don’t understand how this can be a penalty and I understand them also in that way.
”Yes it’s true (we need to see the game out). We need to win this duel on this long ball, we need to win those duels, it’s clear.”
