Rangers boss Barry Ferguson insisted his crew had been denied a stonewall penalty after crashing out of the Europa League in opposition to Athletic Bilbao.
The Spanish aspect booked their place within the semi-finals due to Oihan Sancet’s spot-kick and a late header from the excellent Nico Williams.
Nonetheless, with the quarter-final tie nonetheless poised at 0-0 halfway by way of the primary half of the second leg, Rangers screamed for a spot-kick when Bilbao defender Daniel Vivian tangled with Cyriel Dessers.
Vivian appeared to drag the striker again after grabbing maintain of his jersey, with Dessers left with an enormous gap in the course of his shirt that wanted modified.
Bosnian referee Irfan Peljto noticed no infringement, nevertheless, and VAR didn’t intervene, regardless of replays displaying what appeared to be a transparent foul.
Whereas conceding his crew hadn’t performed sufficient to bother their opponents usually play, Ferguson was bemused as to why Rangers hadn’t been awarded a penalty.
Cyriel Dessers, together with his shirt ripped, protests that he ought to have been awarded a penalty
Rangers boss Barry Ferguson says a penalty and a purple card would have modified the sport
Nico Williams celebrates together with his brother after scoring the second in a 2-0 victory for Bilbao
‘I really feel the damage and disappointment of the gamers,’ he mentioned. ‘The work charge has at all times been there since I’ve are available. We perhaps simply lacked a little bit of high quality at occasions.
‘On the time, I believed it was a penalty. I’ve since had an opportunity to look at it again and I nonetheless assume it was a penalty.
‘It’s clear as day. It will have been a purple card to go together with it as properly, so it might have modified the dynamic of the sport.
‘So I’m upset with the choice and the referee. There was additionally one other one within the second half with Nico [Raskin]. It’s a transparent penalty in my thoughts.
‘It’s powerful to exit on the quarter-finals. We simply want to verify we go away and replicate, then come again subsequent week and prepare to complete the season as strongly as potential.’
Requested if he had any ideas about getting the Rangers job past the tip of the season, interim boss Ferguson added: ‘It’s not on my thoughts in the meanwhile.
‘I’ve performed for my boyhood membership, I’ve captained them, and I’ve now managed them. I’ve loved it. However any discussions like that can happen on the finish of the season.’
Rangers skipper James Tavernier admitted the crew’s general show hadn’t been as much as the required commonplace in opposition to the Europa League favourites.
He mentioned: ‘First half we had been a shadow of ourselves. We let the event get to us.
‘We tried to handle it at half-time. We knew we had 45 minutes to handle it. The boys tried to offer it their all, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient.’
On the shouts for the Rangers penalty, Tavernier added: ‘Cyriel noticed his high was ripped, it both goes for you or in opposition to you.’
The Ibrox captain switched off on the again submit as Bilbao’s star man Williams bulleted in a header to safe the win for the house aspect 10 minutes from time.
Tavernier admitted: ‘The second aim is on me, I used to be organising and switched off for the cross.
‘We’ve to replicate on this season, it’s not been adequate. There’s going to be a variety of change, it might solely get higher.
‘I’ve been actually completely satisfied since Barry got here in, he’s steadied the ship and is aware of the DNA of the membership. I’d like to have Barry right here subsequent season, nevertheless it’s less than me.’
