SNP politician calls out Ally McCoist bias after Rangers controversy v Bilbao
Rangers were denied what seemed a stonewall penalty in the first half against Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Europa League.
Cyriel Dessers had his shirt pulled and the shirt sponsor bit from his jersey came out due to the incident, with the score still 0-0.
However, a penalty was not given and instead he was given a yellow card for his protests in a game Gers lost 2-0.
James Dornan calls out Ally McCoist’s commentary post the incident
Ally McCoist quite rightly pointed out that the officials got that decision completely wrong and that it was a stonewall penalty.
Having looked at the incident, they felt there was not enough to point to the spot, which saw McCoist brandishing it as an “embarrassment” on TNT.
| Cyriel Dessers stats | 2024/25 all competitions |
| Appearances | 50 |
| Goals | 23 |
| Assists | 6 |
James Dornan, an SNP politician, clearly did not see the incident in the same way.
He also poked fun at it being a good advert for the shirt manufacturers as Dessers’ jersey tore so easily, completely taking out the part where the front-of-shirt sponsorships are.
Dornan wrote on X: “Good advert for the shirt manufacturers and of course McCoist’s unbiased commentary. Apparently today the letter of the law is vitally important.”
Barry Ferguson would be fuming at the decision not to award Rangers a penalty
Barry Ferguson will likely be livid after Gers’ Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, and justifiably so, due to UEFA’s failure to award a clear penalty for a foul on Dessers.
In a tightly contested match, Dessers, the Nigeria international, was brought down in the box by a reckless challenge, but the referee waved play on, and VAR inexplicably failed to intervene.
UEFA’s officiating standards are typically among the highest, with advanced technology and experienced officials ensuring fairness in high-stakes European ties.
However, this decision was a glaring error, as replays showed undeniable contact that warranted a spot-kick.
Ferguson, known for his passion amid his deep connection to Rangers, will see this as a pivotal moment that could have altered the tie’s outcome, especially with a semi-final berth at stake.
This blunder not only undermines UEFA’s reputation for precision but also fuels Rangers’ sense of injustice, potentially costing them a historic European run.
Ferguson’s anger will resonate with fans, who expect better from Europe’s governing body in such crucial moments.