Rangers robbed over major controversy in Europa League clash as ex-FIFA official speaks out
Rangers were subjected to several controversial refereeing decisions in their Europa League clash with Genk.
Mohamed Diomande was shown a straight red card, and Genk were awarded a controversial penalty a few minutes later after a soft foul from James Tavernier.
Rangers went 1-0 down in the second half as former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu netted following a counter-attack, to put Russell Martin under even more pressure.
However, Rangers and Martin have a case to be made against the UEFA referees on the night, with one particularly significant incident changing the course of the game.
This article contains exclusive opinion from former FIFA referee Keith Hackett.
Rangers unfairly denied penalty against Genk
Shortly before Diomande's red card, Rangers appealed for a penalty as Tavernier headed the ball onto Joris Kayembe's arm, and referee Matej Jug was called over to the pitchside monitor.
However, with the ball clearly striking Kayembe's arm, Rangers should have been awarded a stonewall penalty, but Jug decided against this, claiming that Tavernier had also pushed the defender and awarded the visitors a free kick.
- Rangers were denied a penalty for handball.
- Diomande was fairly sent off after a dangerous challenge.
- Genk were controversially awarded a penalty at the end of the first half.
- Oh Hyeon-gyu had a second goal disallowed for offside.
- Djeidi Gassama was booked for diving.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, former FIFA referee Keith Hackett claimed that Rangers had been harshly done by with this decision when reviewing the footage.
"Given the grappling that goes on in games, it is rather surprising that the penalty kick for a clear handball was overturned," Hackett claimed.
"Football is a contact sport and I really am surprised that the referee overturned it for an alleged push."
Russell Martin has extra excuse for Rangers' poor display
Martin is under serious pressure, and Rangers were defensively poor yet again under his management against a struggling Genk side.
However, the refereeing decisions that went against his side will serve as yet more excuses he can use to save himself from more scrutiny from Andrew Cavenagh.
Martin blamed the referees as Rangers lost to Hearts in controversial circumstances, and with the decisions playing a big part in this result, he now has another way to deflect the blame from his own tactics.
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