Rangers returned to Seville to face Real Betis for the first time since with referee Srdjan Jovanović from Serbia the man in the middle.
The standard officiating is, usually, higher in European football but they can still be capable of a howler or two.
A free-kick awarded after just a few seconds maybe indicated that we were going to hear the referee’s whistle a lot in what was a key fixture for both Rangers and Real Betis.
Rangers v Real Betis referee watch
The free-kick after just a few seconds lulled us into a false sense of what was about to unfold as the Serb maintained control over a busy but largely uneventful first-half.
Immediately, Gers boss Phillippe Clement showed that he wasn’t happy.
What he did get right though was a penalty claim against Connor Goldson who could do nothing about a pass deflecting up off his own leg and onto his hand.
The second half though saw Jovanovic get more and more involved and, unfortunately for Rangers, started falling for Real Betis’ antics.
Dujon Sterling being penalised for standing next to a Betis player summed up the start to the second half.
Another penalty claim close up for Ben Davies saw Jack Butland save with his foot, again though, there was nothing that the Rangers defender could do, despite the Real Betis claims.
John Lundstram went into the book for being stronger than Isco.
The scouser kept his eyes on a high ball and nudged the Spain legend only for Jovanovic to award a free-kick, Lundstram disagreed and talked his way into the ref’s book.
Rangers looked as though they had gone 3-2 down when Real Betis scored from a corner, the officials got it right without VAR and it was disallowed for handball – apparently it’s not just Ibrox we get these decisions.
Next in the book was James Tavernier, and rightly so, a professional foul to stop a counter attack was the right thing to do.
The game got scrappy as Betis pushed for an equaliser but Rangers held on with no more controversy.
Other than falling for a few theatrics, you have to say that Srdjan Jovanović had a good game, getting all the big decisions right – you can’t ask for anything more than that.
