Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has demanded an explanation from UEFA after his players saw a penalty appeal waved away in their 2-2 draw with Feyenoord, as quoted by BBC Sport.
With the scores locked at 1-1 in the second half, Leroy Fer bundled into the back of Alfredo Morelos, causing the striker to go to ground.
On commentary for BT Sport, Alex Rae immediately declared it a “stonewall penalty”, while after the game, Kenny Miller agreed.
Yet, the man with the whistle, the experienced Damir Skomina, waved play on.
“It’s a blatant penalty. A blatant penalty,” said Gerrard, as quoted by BBC Sport. “Climbing all over him, desperate defending, he crushes him to the floor. Anywhere else on the pitch it’s a foul. So it’s a penalty.”
“I would like an explanation from Uefa as to why we didn’t get that penalty.”
Verdict
Morelos and Rangers were certainly hard done by in this instance.
At best it was clumsy from Fer, who took out the man and got nowhere near the ball, yet somehow got away with it.
Had VAR been in use in the Europa League, there’s little doubt the original decision would have been reversed.
Shortly after the controversial incident, El Bufalo was to pop up with his second to put his team in front, before Luis Sinisterra’s equaliser for the hosts.
Rangers were perhaps fortunate to still be in the game at all at half-time and although this call will bring a sense of injustice, a point ensures Gerrard and his players are very much in control heading into the final fixture at home to Young Boys.
