Rangers have it all to do in UEFA Champions League qualifying after suffering a bruising 2-0 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise but a second half penalty decision has gone viral for the wrong reasons.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Rangers fan anywhere who believes their side deserved something from the game but a decisive penalty goal has USG out in front with a two goal advantage.
This means the Gers must score twice at Ibrox next week to have any chance of going through and it has heaped the pressure on Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his charges.
But that second goal has been resoundingly criticised around the game as the quite ridiculous penalty decision goes viral in football circles.
Referee ridiculed for Rangers penalty decision v Union Saint Gilloise
Bosnian whistler Irfan Peljto is being ridiculed around Europe for handing Union Saint-Gilloise a penalty after Connor Goldson’s handball in the Rangers team’s box.
This is because the referee clearly does not have an understanding of the rules of the game, with the penalty decision objectively an incorrect one given the ball ricocheted off Ben Davies.
According to the IFAB rules, specifically Law 12 which covers fouls and misconduct, this instance is an exception to the handball rule.
This is because ‘the player’s arm is already extended when there is no expectation of the ball coming at, or near, the player from a team-mate.”
The incredible thing is that Peljto got this decision wrong despite having the safety net of VAR and the situation is a thorough embarrassment for UEFA with Rangers fans demanding answers.
With a reported £40m on the line for Champions League group stage qualification, this refereeing howler could prove a costly one both in terms of prestige and finances for both Rangers and Union Saint Gilloise.
The Ibrox support will be hoping their team can turn the tie around in Glasgow but the Gers have it all to do in a week’s time.
Let’s just hope UEFA employ a referee who actually knows the rules this time…
Meanwhile, Rangers fans are buzzing at a clip of one of the club’s youth players as hype continues to build around the kid.