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Dessers criticizes referee for denying penalty, says look at shirt

Posted : 18 April 2025

Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers has voiced his frustration after a penalty was denied in his team's 2–0 defeat to Athletic Club, expressing that the defender involved acknowledged his mistake after the match. Dessers was visibly upset when referee Irfan Peljto opted not to award a penalty, despite a clear shirt pull by Dani Vivian of Bilbao inside the box.


Even after a VAR review, UEFA officials upheld the decision, stating no foul occurred, a ruling that sparked anger from commentators and former players alike. Dessers shared his side of the story during a post-match interview with TNT Sports, where he described the pivotal moment.


"The ball deflects into the box, and I made a run for it, thinking I could reach it. Then, my shirt was pulled. Even if there’s any doubt, just look at the shirt," Dessers said. He emphasized the clear evidence by adding, "If there’s a tear like this, something happened for sure."


Dessers explained that ripping a shirt is impossible without a reason, especially inside the penalty area. "You can't rip a shirt on the pitch, let alone in the box. That was a game-changer," he stated, underlining his disbelief at the referee's decision not to award the penalty.


Adding to his frustrations, Dessers was booked by Peljto for returning to the pitch after changing his torn shirt. "I don’t have an explanation for that," he said. However, he mentioned that the referee showed some understanding afterward. "Afterward, the ref was kind to me and showed some compassion," he remarked.


The 30-year-old forward revealed that Vivian, the defender involved, later admitted to committing the foul. "I spoke to the defender, and he admitted it was a penalty. Everyone could see what happened," Dessers shared.


The controversy over the decision has reignited the ongoing debate about VAR consistency in European competitions. Dessers also referred to another potential penalty incident in the second half involving a handball. Despite the disappointment, he reflected on the team's loss, stating, "That’s football. We were on the wrong side of it today, but we need to move forward."

 

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