The group game between Scotland and Morocco was tense throughout, but the players were furious that a penalty was not awarded.
Scott McTominay furious at not getting a penalty (Image: ITV)
ITV referee analyst Christina Unckel believes Scotland should have been awarded a penalty after losing to Morocco at the World Cup. Coach Steve Clarke’s team lost 1-0 to the African Cup of Nations winners in Boston.
They were unable to create many chances against the North African national team, and Ismael Saibari scored the only goal of the match in the second minute, contributing to the victory. However, in Uncker’s eyes the Scots were denied a clear penalty.
McTominay rushed into the 18-yard box when he was tackled from behind by Neel El Ainaoui. VAR deemed the Moroccan midfielder to have touched the ball, but replays suggested otherwise.
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Uncker believed a penalty should have been awarded when Napoli’s ace was bundled out. She said: “The first thing we’re looking for as VAR is that touch on the ball and the answer is no.”
“So I watched the second replay and it was exactly what I was looking for. There was no contact on that ball. It tripped me from behind and made contact under my left foot.”
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“In this regard, I think it was definitely an oversight that not only did the referee fail to recommend a penalty, but he also did not call it a penalty. I know the referee wants a more physical game, but in my opinion this is a very clear penalty.”
ITV commentator Ally McCoist also thought his countrymen should have won a penalty. “The second time I saw it, I said I had a problem with my left foot. But I also said that I enjoyed the referee allowing me to play. But Christina is right. He was wrong on that point.”
McTominay appeared to be thwarted by El Ainaoui (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
McTominay appeared shocked when his protest was rejected and protested vehemently. But Roy Keane wasn’t convinced it was a penalty. He said: “I don’t think it was a penalty. It’s simple. He was kind of going down. I think he was going down. There’s a difference.”
ITV pundit Ange Postecoglou agreed with Keane, saying: “Morocco’s penalty took him off his feet, but I don’t think that was enough to make it a penalty. He went over, but it’s not a penalty. I think he would have gone down anyway.”
McTominay was furious after the decision was not made (Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
McTominay was furious that Uzbekistan international Ilgiz Tantashev did not point that out. It wasn’t the only time they believed they deserved a penalty.
Early in the second half, John McGinn appeared to be brought down by the same player as he entered the penalty area. There appeared to be little contact with the ball, but it was deemed not enough to warrant a penalty.
The defeat leaves Scotland with work to do to qualify for the knockout stages, with their final group game against Brazil, one of the favorites to win the tournament, coming up next Wednesday.
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