Uefa defends decision to deny Scotland penalty claim, referee axed
- Uefa rejects claims that Scotland should have been awarded a penalty against Hungary.
- Referee and VAR axed after denying Scotland's penalty claim in decisive match against Hungary.
- Controversy surrounds the referee's decision and Uefa's defense of it.
In a recent tournament-ending defeat for Scotland against Hungary, Uefa's head of referees, Roberto Rosetti, defended the decision to deny Scotland a penalty. Rosetti explained that the officials believed the Scotland attacker, Stuart Armstrong, had initiated contact with the defender, Willi Orban, by moving towards him. He also mentioned a potential penalty earlier in the game for a foul by John McGinn. Despite criticism from Scotland's manager, Steve Clarke, Rosetti stated that VAR had checked the situation and deemed it as just physical contact, similar to a previous incident involving McGinn. Uefa expressed satisfaction with their new directive allowing only team captains to approach referees about decisions, aiming to streamline communication and decision-making on the field. Rosetti confirmed that this directive would be implemented in all Uefa competitions, with positive responses from players and national associations. The decision not to award a penalty to Scotland was defended as a result of physical contact, with Rosetti emphasizing the importance of accuracy and speed in VAR reviews during the Euro tournament. Following the controversial decision, the Argentinian referee, Facundo Tello, and VAR official, Alejandro Hernandez, who oversaw the Scotland-Hungary match have reportedly been replaced by UEFA. Tello's handling of the late penalty claim by Scotland, which was waved away, sparked outrage from Clarke and led to his removal from further officiating duties. Despite Scotland's disappointing campaign with only one point gained, UEFA's decision to replace the officiating team reflects their commitment to maintaining standards and addressing contentious issues in matches. In a separate development, Italian referee Maurizio Mariani has been assigned to officiate in the Copa America, highlighting the international exchange of referees between UEFA and CONMEBOL. Tello's history of issuing 10 red cards in a single match underscores his controversial past, including a notable incident in a Champions Trophy final. The decision to replace Tello and his team underscores UEFA's commitment to upholding fairness and accuracy in officiating, especially during high-pressure tournaments like the Euro.