UEFA explain decision to disallow McTominay’s outrageous goal | Spanish police hit Scotland fan

UEFA have taken to explain the controversial decision to disallow Scott McTominay’s outrageous goal against Spain on Thursday night.

Scott McTominay saw his incredible free kick on the 59th minute disallowed for offside in controversial circumstances. However it at first wasn’t initially made clear as for what they had been checking for.

Scotland vice-captain John McGinn accused officials of changing their reasoning over disallowing the ‘opener’ in the 2-0 defeat to Spain in Seville, with a draw being enough for the Tartan Army in qualifying for Euro 2024.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke felt there is “no way in the world” that Scott McTominay’s free-kick would’ve been stopped with it revealed that it was disallowed for offside due to Jack Hendry interfering with play.

Clarke’s side’s run five straight wins came to an end when Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet gave the hosts a 2-0 victory in the qualifier.

There had been plenty confusion around the decision with screens in the stadium saying the goal had been disallowed due to a foul by Hendry on goalkeeper Unai Simon, only for UEFA to then clarify that he was instead offside and interfering with play.

Referee a disgrace. Info initially that Scotland’s goal by Scott McTominay was disallowed for a foul. Then changed to offside. I’m not convinced either way. That’s before we get to Carvajal’s blatant foul on John McGinn in the first half.#TartanArmy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿pic.twitter.com/TwrlN43j1D

— Barry Anderson (@BarryAnderson_) October 12, 2023

SFA need to request the officials’ audio from UEFA. Utter shambles in Spain: McTominay goal, changing decisions, Carvajal on McGinn, etc. Time to mic up refs for live broadcast. VAR supposed to improve football but it’s making the game worse. See you in Germany.#TartanArmy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

— Barry Anderson (@BarryAnderson_) October 13, 2023

An alternative angle of Scott McTominay’s disallowed goal… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Can you spot the foul in this? #EURO2024 | @ScotlandNT pic.twitter.com/6nzsTPpHl3

— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) October 12, 2023

“At the time, we think it is a goal,” said Clarke. “You know when the referee gets told to look at it, he is probably going to chalk it off. They have made the call, there is no point in me going on about it.

“I think there was a little bit of confusion at the time, whether it was offside or for a foul on the keeper.

“If you take those two together, Jack Hendry was marginally offside and when he steps towards the goalkeeper, they have interpreted that as Jack being involved in the play but I will tell you now there is no way in the world the keeper was saving that, no matter where Jack Hendry was.

“You just move on. It is a VAR decision that goes against you. When we conceded, it makes it more difficult and the second goal puts gloss on for Spain I don’t think they deserve.”

Scotland can still qualify for Euro 2024 if Spain pick up at least a point in their next Group A qualifying game, away to third-placed Norway in Oslo on Sunday.

“We came here to show that we were a good team and I think tonight we showed that,” Clarke said.

“Tonight was the first chance to qualify, maybe the result on Sunday night goes in our favour and we can qualify from that. But we don’t qualify because of that result, we qualify because of the work we’ve done to have 15 points from six games.

“That’s why we will qualify if a result goes our way over the weekend. If it doesn’t go our way and Norway win, then we have a very realistic chance for the two games in November to win this section and that’s what we’ll focus on.

“We can be pleased with how we performed but the lads are really disappointed that we’ve lost the game because we didn’t come here to lose.”

John McGinn claimed the referee changed his mind, adding: “Every Scottish person would be frustrated watching that. The goal, you think you’ve got a goal to qualify. Unbelievable strike from Scotty. No keeper in the world is saving that.

“The referee decides it’s a foul. During the game he changes his mind to say it’s an offside. Not sure how clear that is. That’s the thing that stings really. We get the big moment, we score. Jack’s right leg is offside, but it’s very, very harsh.”

BBC Sport Scotland pundit Steven Thompson said: “You’re kidding me. You are kidding me. From such a high to a low in seconds.”

James McFadden spoke on Sportscene: “The referee points for a foul. It’s not a foul, for a start.

“And then it seems to be disallowed for interfering from an offside position. Jack Hendry is in an offside position, and he does make contact with the goalkeeper so technically he is interfering.

“But does the goalkeeper have any intent to come and get it? I don’t think he does.”

Meanwhile, video footage has emerged online showing a Spanish police officer striking his baton at a Scotland fan ahead of the game in Seville.

Spanish police not happy with Scotland fans tonight pic.twitter.com/G2maNxaMeJ

— Scottish Football Away Days (@days_scottish) October 11, 2023

It showed armed riot police close in on Scotland fans, trying to move them from an area in the city on Wednesday night with two Scotland supporters, seen wearing the national team shirt, standing in front of coppers, who use heavy handed tactics.

One man holds up his hands before being hit in the other in the leg. A second officer approaches waving his baton in the air attempting to move fans along.

The fan who had been struck fell to ground not helped with a chair lying on the ground.

He wraps his hands over his head trying to protect himself from being hit again, with his mate standing over him with his hands held out in an attempt to stop police from using their batons again.

Fellow fans check out the fan who was left hurt, and then took top booing the police, with the reasoning as to what led to this incident not made clear, but fans in the square were left ‘in a state of disarray when officers approached.’

The only other footage uploaded onto social media shows fans holding a speaker and doing the conga.

This is how fans reacted as UEFA explain decision to disallow McTominay’s outrageous goal…

@KFCView: What about the Spanish player having his arms wrapped right round dykes in this video??? Seems to of gone unnoticed

@OtisShermangee: Classic UEFA! Ref totally called it (farcically) as a foul then VAR panicked and made out it was offside @UEFA tell me otherwise

@graemeeaston: Let’s not forget that Andy Robertson was arguably fouled that led him to being taken off injured. That was a bizarre decision

@paulwedlock1: The tune has changed & it was offside, yet the referee did not signal offside. That’s an indirect free kick offence (the referee raises his hand to indicate this). The referee didn’t in my view anyway seem to indicate this. I don’t think they have a clue between them.

@agarnett91: That’s an absolutely horrendous decision

@CelticLass07: one of the worst decisions i’ve seen. disgraceful

@chrispmclean: VAR ensures Uefa get the result they want. Fix

@AjFionn: Not one Spanish player complained at the goal – that’s how bad this decision was.

@tynetakes: Pathetic decision- not a single complaint not even from the keeper at the time of goal. It’s rubbish- it’s not serving it’s purpose please for the sake of football scrap it

@paullavery01: (English) you lot were completely robbed. Joke of a decision. Hope you qualify, on the basis of that decision if nothing else.

@JJOGB: Can’t have Spain not qualifying now can we. Utter bollocks.

@micky3quid: That’s got to be just about the worst decision I’ve ever seen on a football pitch. Absolutely shocking. Scotland been stitched right up there. Not one thing happened to even think about VAR.

@tjwright1983: Shocking decision, absolutely appalling, football is gone, england fan