James Tavernier has revealed what referee Irfan Pjelto told him after Rangers had a penalty appeal waved away against Athletic Club this evening.
The Ibrox side bowed out of the Europa League at the quarter-final stage after a 2-0 defeat to the Basque outfit.
In the first half, when the game was poised at 0-0, Cyriel Dessers was brought down in the box via a shirt pull from Daniel Vivian.
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Whistler Pjelto didn't give a penalty, but spoke to the Rangers captain after the incident: "He [the referee] said there was little in it," revealed Tavernier [TNT].
"But you saw his top, and it was ripped. It's one of those, it goes for you or it goes against you.
"I've got to give the boys credit for the energy they put into the game."
Ally McCoist thinks Rangers should have had a spot-kick: "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.
