(Credit: TNT Sports)

UEFA 'to investigate' Rangers controversy v Athletic Bilbao as footage studied - Exclusive

Refereeing Consultant AUTHORITY Former FIFA Referee; Head of PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited). Focus: Laws of the Game, VAR implementation, officiating performance, and PGMOL policy. THE AUDIT Keith utilises Statscore’s Officiating Telemetry, including Deep-Data Metrics like Incident Accuracy Rates, VAR Intervention Latency, and Official Positional Efficiency. He provides technical refereeing analysis to reveal the regulatory reality behind match-defining decisions.

Published on:

11 Apr 2025, 2:10 am

Liam Kelly was a massive hero as Rangers somehow battled to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.

The Bears were forced to play over 90 minutes with 10 men after Robin Propper was sent off for a professional foul on Inaki Williams, following a VAR review.

VAR didn't stop with interventions there, though, as Dujon Sterling was adjudged to have handled in the box after Alex Berenguer's disallowed goal.

Istvan Kovacs pointed to the spot following a review, but he could now face further action, as Kelly saved the following penalty to secure a heroic draw.

Liam Kelly was handed a rare start by Ferguson (Credit: Imago)

UEFA to investigate Rangers saga

Keith Hackett has urged UEFA to investigate the awarding of the penalty, saying there was zero clarity in several replays that he studied to award a penalty.

Sterling was deemed to have deliberately handled in the box, but the ex-FIFA referee believes there was no action towards the ball from the defender.

"I hope that the incident where a goal was ruled out for offside and then a penalty kick awarded is investigated," Hackett exclusively told Ibrox News.

"I have studied the clip several times, and I do not see the clarity in the video replays to determine with accuracy either decision.

"I can only suggest that the game was using the semi-automated offside system to determine the offside decision.

"To award a penalty kick, I do not see a deliberate action to be able to determine with certainty that the alleged handling of the ball was deliberate."

Ferguson was not happy with the decision (Credit: Imago)

Rangers have Europa League on the line in Bilbao

It all sets up a sensational return leg in Bilbao next Thursday.

Rangers will be wary of how the Spaniards work now, too, with every little foul and decision leading to complaints and demands, with VAR likely busy again.

Rangers	Athletic Bilbao
Propper sent off - 13
	Sannadi penalty denied - 53
	Berenguer penalty missed - 81

Kovacs and VAR had a night to forget at Ibrox

Should UEFA look into the drama at Ibrox, though, they could warn their officials ahead of the second leg shootout for a spot in the semi-finals against Manchester United or Lyon.

Barry Ferguson will want the same ferocity in this team regardless, with the interim manager also picking up a booking on a night full of fireworks, but zero goals.

Keith Hackett

Dujon Sterling

Istvan Kovacs