UEFA'S REFEREE CHIEF BACKS CONTROVERSIAL DECISION TO DENY SCOTLAND PENALTY IN DEFEAT TO HUNGARY AS HE STATES THAT STUART ARMSTRONG 'INITIATED THE CONTACT'
- Scotland were knocked out of Euro 2024 after losing 1-0 to Hungary on Sunday
- The Scots were furious after being denied what they thought was a clear penalty
- LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: All the reasons England fans have to be positive going into the last 16
UEFA managing director for refereeing Roberto Rosetti has defended the decision not to award Scotland a penalty during their heartbreaking defeat to Hungary on Sunday.
The Scots were denied what they believed was a clear spot-kick before the Hungarians netted a 100th minute winner to send them home.
Southampton's Stuart Armstrong went down in the box following contact from Hungary defender Willi Orban, but referee Facundo Tello waved play on and was not asked to review the incident by his VAR assistants.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke went on a furious rant about the Argentine official after the game and reports emerged on Friday that he had been axed from refereeing any more games at the tournament.
However, the decision was defended by refereeing chief Rosetti, during an hour-long briefing about the officiating in Germany.
'This was a very tough game with a couple of controversial incidents,' Rosetti said when asked about the Armstrong incident.
'There was one, for example, in minute 68 when there was a possible penalty because No 7 of Scotland, John McGinn, was pulling the opponent's shirt just before the incident. So, this was one of the possible penalties.
'Then there was of course in minute 79 in the penalty area of Hungary another incident. This was, let's say, in favour of Hungary. The second one was in favour of Scotland when the attacker of Scotland - Armstrong - was in front of the Hungarian.
'If you watch it from behind the camera, there was a movement of the attacker towards the Hungarian. So, another controversial decision.'
Rosetti stressed that VAR 'check everything. There was no intervention because in their opinion the attacker changed the direction towards the defender and, in his opinion, it was just a physical contact to challenge the defender.'
Clarke was asked about the incident in a post-game interview with ITV.
'It's a penalty,' said Clarke. 'I do not know for the life of me why it's not given.'
Clarke was then asked if he had spoken to the referee to question why the penalty was not awarded and why it was not the subject of an on-screen VAR review.
'He's from Argentina,' Clarke replied. 'Why would I ask him? He probably doesn't speak the language. I don't know. Why is he here? Why is there not a European referee?'
The entire refereeing team from that night alongside five other crews have been sent packing, according to The Sun.
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