UEFA quizzed over Athletic v Rangers referee appointment after what’s now emerged
Rangers suffered a cruel elimination from the Europa League on Thursday as they fell 2-0 to Athletic Bilbao.
While it is widely accepted the Gers were not good enough over the two legs, the tie could have turned out a whole lot different had a major decision gone Rangers’ way.
Cyriel Dessers felt he should have been awarded a penalty with the scoreline still 0-0 after having his shirt pulled inside the penalty box by Yeray Alvarez.
Rangers also had a shout for handball rejected at San Mames as they fell to a 2-0 aggregate defeat in the quarter-final tie.
And it has now emerged that referee Irfan Peljto is no stranger to controversy.
Athletic Bilbao v Rangers referee previously banned for six matches
Barry Ferguson was furious his side were not awarded those two spot-kicks, and the stand-in Rangers boss will be even more annoyed when he learns of Peljto’s past.
It was pointed out by The Scottish Sun on Friday (18 April) that Peljto was handed a six-match ban earlier this season by his own Football Association.
That is after the Bosnian ref made three mistakes in one match in September’s clash between Zrinjski Mostar and Borac Banja.
Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett has now asked the question to UEFA of exactly why Peljto was placed in charge of such a high-profile fixture.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, Hackett said: “Rangers were denied a clear penalty kick when Dessers literally had his shirt ripped off his back.
“Now there’s been news today that this Bosnian blunder ref was banned for six months by his own Football Association earlier this season for a hat-trick of mistakes in one game, which included not giving two penalties.
“One needs to ask is how was he appointed by UEFA to such an important game.“
Rangers now left with only pride to play for
This season rested solely on success in the Europa League, with the domestic campaign having been over for months now.
| Stats | Athletic | Rangers |
| Posession | 56% | 44% |
| Expected goals (xG) | 2.7 | 0.54 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 2 |
| Big chances missed | 2 | 2 |
Rangers still have a month of the Scottish Premiership campaign to play, but it is simply a case of ticking off the games and preparing for next season.
Ferguson will certainly take a different view than that, knowing he has five games to show why he deserves to stay in charge at Ibrox full time.
Ultimately, though, the season ended at the full-time whistle in the Basque Country on Thursday.