John Souttar destroyed by talkSPORT man after Rangers loss v Bilbao
John Souttar started at the heart of the defence for Rangers as they suffered a defeat against Athletic Bilbao.
After the first leg ended 0-0, both teams had everything to play for going into the second leg at San Mames.
However, despite their best efforts, the Ibrox outfit failed to progress to the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League as they suffered a 2-0 defeat.
David Tanner slams Souttar after San Mames incident
David Tanner, a broadcaster, was covering the quarter-final clash for talkSPORT.
In the first half, Souttar conceded a penalty and at the stroke of half-time, handed Bilbao a golden chance to take the lead.
While the hosts created the better chances in the first period, going into the break with the score deadlocked was what Barry Ferguson would’ve wanted.
However, Souttar’s baffling decision to swing his leg in that manner, left the referee with no choice to point to the spot.
Via X, Tanner wrote: “Athletic score the 1st goal of the tie. After such a courageous defensive performance, Rangers fell behind after an uncharacteristically daft tackle in the box from John Souttar. Rangers should have had a pen earlier.”
Rangers had decisions going against them all game
Souttar must hold himself to a higher standard after conceding a penalty in Gers’ Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, a high-stakes clash where defensive discipline is paramount.
At 28, with European experience and a reputation for resilience, the Scotland international knows better than to make such a costly error.
This mistake jeopardised Rangers’ semi-final hopes, and Souttar’s awareness of his body positioning needs sharpening in these critical moments.
However, the officiating in this match was abysmal, undermining the game’s integrity.
| Cyriel Dessers stats | 2024/25 all competitions |
| Appearances | 50 |
| Goals | 23 |
| Assists | 6 |
The penalty awarded against Souttar was as contentious as the blatant foul on Cyriel Dessers at the other end, which was inexplicably ignored by both the referee and VAR.
Replays showed clear contact on Dessers in the box, yet no penalty was given, highlighting a baffling inconsistency.
UEFA’s typically high standards faltered here, with both decisions reflecting poor judgment.
While Souttar must improve, the refereeing errors, not equally penalising both teams, cast a shadow over a tie that deserved better officiating clarity.