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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Josh McCafferty

Bilbao defender in Rangers penalty confession after Europa League clash

Athletic Club defender Daniel Vivian thinks Rangers should have had a penalty despite exiting the Europa League tonight, according to Cyriel Dessers

The Nigerian striker was brought down in the box in the opening 45 minutes after a clear shirt pull. 

Dessers went down, although referee Irfan Pjelto gave nothing. VAR also ruled that there was no wrongdoing. 


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Dessers, however, lifted the lid on his perspective on it, indeed revealing that Vivian admitted Rangers should have had a spot-kick. 

"The ball gets deflected into the box, I wanted to make a run to it and I thought I could get to it, [but] my shirt got pulled," said the forward [TNT Sports]. 

"Even if there's doubt, you can look at the shirt 

"I think it's a game-changer. 

"But OK, that's football. We were on the wrong side of it. It hurts.

"I got the yellow card because I came back onto the pitch. 

"I have no real explanation for that. After that, he [the referee] was kind to me, he showed some compassion as well. 

"I spoke to the defender [Vivian] after, he admitted it was a penalty."

Similarly, Rangers legend Ally McCoist thinks his old team should have been given the chance to net from 12 yards: "That's a penalty," he said [TNT Sports]. 

"He [Dessers] has every right to be unhappy. I'm not sure which part of that isn't a penalty.

"It's embarrassing, what a state of affairs. It's an absolute embarrassment. Holy smokes."

Ex Ibrox gaffer Giovanni van Bronckhorst was of a similar mindset: "He’s getting pulled, his shirt is damaged. 

"For this, it’s a penalty. I want to know the explanation why not."

Rangers are next in action a week on Saturday, when they travel to face St Mirren in the first of their Scottish Premiership post-split fixtures

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