UEFA refs boss Roberto Rosetti says the controversial penalty decision Scotland didn’t get against Hungary was the RIGHT call by the officials - because Stuart Armstrong initiated the contact.
Scots fans were raging when Argentinian official Facundo Tello waved away claims for Hungary defender Willi Orban’s challenge on Armstrong last Sunday.
But Rosetti said the decision was correct - and that Hungary could also have been awarded a penalty BEFORE the Stuttgart flashpoint.
Managing Director for Refereeing Rosetti said: “This was a very tough game with a couple of controversial incidents.
“There was one in minute 68 when there was a possible penalty because the Scotland number 7 - John McGinn - was pulling the opponent’s shirt.
“Then of course in minute 79 in the penalty area of Hungary, there was another incident, in favour of Scotland.
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“The attacker of Scotland, Armstrong, was in front of the Hungarian.
“If you watch it from behind the camera, there was a movement of the attacker towards the Hungarian, so it was another controversial decision.
“Of course the VAR checked it - they check everything.
“They checked and decided it was just physical contact because, in their opinion the attacker changed his direction towards the defender and it was a physical contact to challenge the defender.
“So, no intervention.”
Rosetti grew short-tempered when Scottish media quizzed him again about the Armstrong incident during the Euros briefing.
He said: “There were two controversial situations - two, O.K.?
“One was a clear pulling in the penalty area but you don’t mention that?
“Then there was the Armstrong situation which I have explained how it was decided. Thank you.”
As Sunsport revealed yesterday, Tello has not been appointed as referee for any of the Round of 16 fixtures, which begin tomorrow.
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He said: “We started with 19 refereeing teams and we have reached a point where some referees will not be appointed in matches.
“We will assess the performances and appoint the best referees for the next matches.
“There isn’t space for all the referees. Believe me it’s tough to tell the officials, ‘Game over.’
“The referees who don’t handle another game are not ending because they have been bad, but because others have been better.”
However Rosetti PRAISED Scotland skipper Andy Robertson for his conduct towards referee Clement Turpin following the penalty decision that led to Ryan Porteous’ red card against Germany in the opening fixture.
UEFA made a pre-tournament decision to crack down on dissent, only allowing team captains to speak to referees - with other players automatically yellow-carded for approaching officials.
Rosetti revealed that cautions for dissent in the group stage had almost doubled - with 19 yellows compared to ten in the last Euros.
Media were played audio discussion between ref Turpin and VAR Jerome Brisard following Porteous’ challenge on Ilkay Gundogan, with Brisard exclaiming “Ooof! Penalty, clear penalty, and for me it’s red.”
Rosetti said: “In the opening match we saw an excellent dialogue between the Scotland captain and the referee Clement Turpin.
“Clement was following the ball and didn’t fix the point of contact at the tackle. The penalty is 100 percent clear and the red card for serious foul play is correct.
“It’s a good decision by the referee in the end - and very good intervention by the VAR Jerome Brisard.
“But I would say also it was excellent behaviour by this great player, Robertson, the captain of Scotland.
“A great player and he showed great behaviour towards the referee.
“This is what we want to see.”
Meanwhile, three Scottish refs will take charge of European ties in the early rounds next month.
David Munro will take charge of the Champions League qualifier between Faroes side Klaksvik and Differdange 03 of Luxembourg.
David Dickinson will be in the middle for Botev Plovdiv’s Europa League game against Maribor of Slovenia, while Matt MacDermid will be in charge of the Conference League game between Wales’ Bala Town and Paide of Estonia.
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