Manchester City v Real Madrid C.F. - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off First Leg Rodrygo Goes right winger of Real Madrid and Brazil and Vinicius Junior left winger of Real Madrid and Brazil during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg match between Manchester City and Real Madrid C.F. at Manchester City Stadium on February 11, 2025 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Manchester England United Kingdom PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xJosexBretonx originalFilename:bretonhernandez-manchest250211_np5GN.jpg
Scotland manager Steve Clarke has admitted his players are “devastated” after three significant refereeing decisions denied them a vital result at the World Cup.
The Scots fell to a 1-0 defeat against Morocco in Boston, with Uzbekistani official Ilgiz Tantashev at the centre of the controversy throughout the match.
Tantashev turned down two strong penalty appeals, one for John McGinn and another for Scott McTominay, as Scotland’s hopes of reaching the knockout rounds suffered a serious blow.
Clarke also believed Morocco should have been reduced to ten men before half time when defender Issa Diop brought down Che Adams as the striker appeared to be bursting clear on goal.
The defeat leaves Scotland needing at least a point against Brazil in Miami on Wednesday night to avoid an early exit from the tournament in the United States.
Clarke said of the penalty claims: “I thought the John McGinn one was 50-50. Some would give it and I think if the referee had then it wouldn’t have been overturned by VAR.”
Regarding the Issa Diop challenge on Adams, Clarke added: “He would have had the chance to go through one on one with the goalkeeper but he gets brought down.”
Clarke acknowledged there was little his side could do about the decisions, saying: “The referee chooses yellow and VAR backs the referee but listen, there’s nothing we can do about that.”
Scotland’s evening was made significantly harder when Grant Hanley allowed Ismael Saibari to slam home after just 70 seconds, gifting Morocco an early and damaging lead.
Clarke did not hold back when describing his reaction to the opening goal, saying simply: “I wish we could start again! That would have been the first thing.”
The manager acknowledged his side’s defensive error, saying: “We lost a poor goal because we tried to step up. You’ve got to track the runners early in the game because that’s when they are full of energy and invention.”
Despite the nightmare start, Clarke was keen to highlight his side’s character and resilience in responding to the setback against quality opposition.
He said: “Weaker teams would have crumbled against that quality of opposition, but we got ourselves back in the game and started moving the ball about a little bit better.”
Clarke was proud of his players’ efforts in the second half, noting the team built good momentum after the hydration break and continued pushing hard for an equaliser.
He said: “I’m proud of the players but obviously they are all devastated and disappointed that we didn’t get the result that we wanted to carry on in this tournament for as long as we can.”
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s crucial clash with Brazil, Clarke said his squad would need time to process the result before shifting focus to an even greater challenge.
He added: “First of all you have to let the players suffer a little bit over the next 48 hours because that’s what they will do. They don’t like losing against anybody.”
Clarke was measured but realistic about what lies ahead, concluding: “We’ll rest, recover and get ready to go again but the games don’t get much easier.”
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