ITV referee analyst Christina Unkel believes Scotland were denied a clear penalty during their World Cup defeat to Morocco – but Roy Keane was not so convinced. Steve Clarke’s side fell to a 1-0 loss against the Africa Cup of Nations champions in Boston.
The Scots struggled to fashion any genuine chances against the North Africans, who thoroughly deserved their victory. Yet Scotland were refused what Unkel considered a clear spot-kick. McTominay burst into the penalty area before being challenged from behind by Neil El Aynaoui. VAR determined the Moroccan midfielder made contact with the ball, though replays appeared to tell a different story. Unkel remained adamant that Scotland should have been given a penalty when the Napoli star was brought down.
She said: “The first thing you’re looking for as VAR is any touch on that ball and the answer is no. We saw that second replay there and exactly what I was looking for, there was no contact on that ball.
“There is a trip up from behind, contact on the left lower leg. For this, I do think there is a missed incident from the var to recommend a penalty as well as the referee to not make a decision on penalty. I know this referee is calling a more physical game but it is a very clear penalty in my opinion.”
Ally McCoist, commentating for ITV, also felt his compatriots should have been awarded a spot-kick. He said: “I did say when I watched it second time there is a challenge on the left leg. But I did say I’m enjoying the referee allowing the game to go. However, Christina is right, he did get that one wrong.”
Roy Keane remained unconvinced that it warranted a penalty. He said: “I don’t think it was a penalty. As simple as that. He was kind of looking to go down. I think he was looking to go down. There’s a difference.”
Fellow ITV pundit Ange Postecoglou sided with Keane, saying: “The Moroccan penalty gets his leg out, but I don’t think that’s enough to be a penalty. He does get across him, but not for a penalty, I think he was going down anyway.”
However, Duncan Ferguson felt it was a penalty. “It was a penalty. There was a wee touch, there was a big touch. McTominay goes in, he’s running at speed and I think you can see it.”
McTominay was incensed when Uzbekistani official Ilgiz Tantashev refused to point to the spot. Yet that was not the only occasion on which the Scots felt they had a legitimate penalty claim.
Shortly after the interval, John McGinn appeared to be felled by the same player after bursting into the penalty area. With minimal contact on the ball also evident, the referee once again decided there were insufficient grounds to award a penalty.