Rangers Fury as Dessers Shirt Pull Ignored in Europa League Exit – Former Referee Slams “Inexcusable” VAR Blunder
Rangers were left fuming after being denied what many believe was a blatant penalty during their Europa League quarter-final clash with Athletic Bilbao — with a top former referee branding the decision “difficult to understand.”
In a fiery showdown at San Mames, goals from Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams sealed a 2-0 win for the Spanish side, knocking Rangers out of the competition. But the spotlight quickly shifted to a controversial moment in the 16th minute when Cyriel Dessers appeared to be blatantly fouled in the box.
As the Nigerian striker raced to meet a deflected ball, Bilbao defender Dani Vivian tugged so hard on Dessers’ shirt that it tore, yet no penalty was awarded. Adding insult to injury, Dessers was booked for protesting and showing the gaping hole in his kit to the referee.
“I made a run because I thought I could get to the ball,” Dessers explained to TNT Sports. “Then my shirt gets pulled. Even if you doubt it, just look at the damage — it’s torn. That doesn’t happen unless something serious occurs. That was a game-changing moment.”
Sky Sports pundit and ex-Rangers forward Kris Boyd echoed the outrage, calling it “an absolute disgrace” and “a stonewall penalty,” slamming the VAR team for not even asking the referee, Irfan Peljto, to review the incident on the monitor.
Former Premier League referee and ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has now weighed in, strongly criticising the decision. Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett said, “The shirt pull should have been immediately flagged by VAR, and the referee should have been sent to the monitor. It’s baffling how such a clear offence went unpunished.”
The incident has left Rangers fans and pundits alike questioning the reliability of VAR in key European fixtures — and wondering what might have been had the call gone their way.