Cyriel Dessers ‘should have had penalty by law’ in Athletic Bilbao v Rangers
Rangers went into their Europa League quarter-final second leg with Athletic Bilbao, knowing it was the biggest game of their season amid domestic struggles.
The Bears headed into the return leg in Spain, drawing 0-0 on aggregate thanks to their heroic efforts at Ibrox on 10 April.
Despite Robin Propper’s early red card last week, Barry Ferguson’s men defended valiantly to keep a clean sheet and head to Spain with the score level.
But the Bears still knew that they had a tough job on their hands in getting the better of Ernesto Valverde’s men on away soil, going into the break one behind.
McCoist reacts to Rangers’ penalty shootout against Bilbao
Cyriel Dessers thought he should have been awarded a penalty when Bilbao defender Daniel Vivian grabbed a chunk of the striker’s shirt and ripped it.
| Cyriel Dessers stats | 2024/25 all competitions |
| Appearances | 50 |
| Goals | 23 |
| Assists | 6 |
However, referee Irfan Peljto waved away the appeals and opted not to award Barry Ferguson’s men a spot-kick, while Dessers had to change his shirt.
Ally McCoist, speaking live on TNT Sports 2 [17 April, 20:18], could not believe it, saying: “By the letter of the law, that is a penalty.”
“It’s an embarrassing state of affairs. It’s an absolute embarrassment from the referee.”
Rangers could have been handed a penalty against Bilbao
While Vivian’s shirt pull on Dessers was arguably a soft foul, and the sort which Rangers supporters would not like to see go against their side, it certainly could have been given as a spot kick.
The Bilbao defender seemingly had no intention of winning the ball while he impeded the Nigeria international on his way to close down the keeper.
Furthermore, the Bears will still feel as though Propper was unlucky to see his yellow card in the first leg at Ibrox upgraded to a red after a VAR review.
Vivian’s shirt pull on Dessers appeared somewhat similar to the incident which saw Arsenal handed a penalty in Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid, when Raul Asencio got hold of Mikel Merino.
The Gers already had a tough task on their hands in getting the better of Valverde’s La Liga highfliers, and will be disappointed that referee Peljto did not give them any help when he could have awarded Ferguson’s men a spot-kick.
Ferguson and Co were then all the more disappointed when Bilbao were handed a penalty when John Souttar tangled with Maroan Sannadi, and the hosts went 1-0 up via Oihan Sancet’s effort from 12 yards.
A lot of work is needed in the second half.