Scotland reaction: Clarke takes aim at VAR, queries referee choice and has say on team’s goal threat
The clock was ticking towards midnight when Steve Clarke eventually made his way to the podium in the press conference room at the Stuttgart Arena. The inquest was about to start. It may continue for some time.
Not last night, however. He post-match briefing lasted just five minutes and four seconds. The Scotland manager was “disappointed and sad, the same as everyone else who is Scottish I’d imagine” after the 1-0 defeat from Hungary that made it 12 first round exits from 12 major finals stretching back to 1954.
He was also angry. He was angry that what seemed like very legitimate appeals for a penalty when substitute Stuart Armstrong was bundled over were waved away by the Argentinian referee and not even looked at by the VAR team. Clarke described it as the defining moment of the game, and perhaps Scotland’s championships. Hungary substitute Kevin Csoboth drilled home the 100th minute shortly afterwards.
Clarke was clearly bemused why a referee from South America was officiating at the Euros in the first place although Facunda Tello is not the first Argentinian to do so. Fernando Rapallini officiated at Euro 2020. The job share is part of an agreement between UEFA and South American counterpart CONMEBOL. Clarke is not a fan of the arrangement.
“In a European competition it might have been better to have a European referee,” said Clarke. “But we had European VAR. Maybe the referee didn’t see the challenge clearly on the pitch but what’s the purpose of VAR if they’re not going to come in on something like that. It’s a penalty.
“It’s 100 per cent a penalty. Somebody somewhere has to explain to me why that’s not a penalty. It’s 100 per cent and in a one-goal gave, had we got that penalty, it could have been a different night. I’ve got other words but I’m not going to use them.”
Be the first to comment