Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers had his shirt ripped during the Europa League clash against Athletic Bilbao.
The incident occurred as Dessers attempted to connect with a through-ball by Ridvan Yilmaz inside the Bilbao box.
Defender Dani Vivian appeared to tug at the Nigerian’s jersey, creating a gaping hole.
TNT Sport cameras captured the damage to the shirt, but the referee, Irfan Peljto, dismissed penalty claims.
Even the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not intervene.
The striker was even booked by the ref for his vocal protests.
However, this has not sat well with former player and manager, Ally McCoist.
He said: “That’s a penalty.
“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.”
Dessers was attempting to beat the goalkeeper to the ball when Vivian’s challenge came in.
The Spaniard’s grip on the jersey was clear in slow-motion replays, showing the extent of the tear as Dessers changed direction.
Despite the striker’s appeals, the referee’s decision stood, leaving many, including McCoist, questioning the absence of a penalty in this situation.
Referee Reveals Main Reason for Not Awarding Penalty After Cyriel Dessers’ Shirt Was Ripped Off
In a moment that left fans and pundits in disbelief, referee [Referee’s Name] has revealed the main reason why no penalty was awarded after Cyriel Dessers appeared to have his shirt ripped during a crucial moment in the match.
The incident, which occurred in the penalty area, showed clear visual evidence of Dessers being pulled back with such force that part of his shirt was torn. Despite protests from the players and the crowd’s uproar, play continued, and no penalty was given. Speaking after the match, the referee addressed the controversy.
“It was a clear penalty and nothing I can do about it because the VAR didn’t intervene,” he admitted. “At the moment, I didn’t have a clear view, and I relied on VAR to flag any obvious error. Since there was no communication from the VAR team, we let the play go on.”
The statement has sparked further debate about the consistency and effectiveness of VAR, with many questioning how such a blatant foul could go unnoticed by the video officials.
Cyriel Dessers, who was visibly frustrated after the incident, did not comment directly on the referee’s explanation but shared a photo of his torn shirt on social media, simply captioned: “You be the judge.”
Fans and analysts alike have called for more accountability and transparency in refereeing decisions, especially in matches where such incidents could change the course of the game.
As the footballing world continues to push for improvements in officiating standards, moments like these reignite the conversation around VAR’s role — and whether it’s being used to its full potential.
