Bill Leckie has delivered a scathing assessment of the controversial incident involving Cyriel Dessers during Rangers’ loss to Athletic Bilbao.
The Spanish outfit secured a 1-0 win at San Mames, advancing to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals where they will face Manchester United, who edged past Lyon in a dramatic tie at Old Trafford.
Leckie slams officials as Mourinho’s comments resurface
Leckie expressed fury over Rangers not being awarded a penalty when Dessers was dragged down in the box and had his shirt ripped. VAR chose not to intervene or instruct referee Irfan Peljto to consult the pitchside monitor.
Such a review, Leckie argued, would’ve almost certainly resulted in a penalty and a red card for Dani Vivian—likely swinging the match in Rangers’ favour. He referenced Jose Mourinho’s recent claim that referees are hesitant to make calls against Bilbao, given they are hosting the Europa League final.
Writing in The Sun, Leckie said:
“Anyone watching could see Dani Vivian’s pull on Dessers was a clear penalty. The giveaway? When the Nigerian got up with the sponsor’s logo dangling like a dog’s tongue. Or was that just shoddy stitching?”
He continued:
“What’s astounding — though maybe not to Mourinho — is that VAR didn’t send Peljto to the monitor. That would’ve surely changed the outcome and forced him to send off Vivian. But that required the kind of nerve these officials just didn’t have.”
Leckie also mocked the subsequent booking of Dessers, noting it could have been for “anything from dissent, changing his shirt too soon, or simply giving the fourth official a dirty look.”
Reflecting on Mourinho’s earlier claims that UEFA favoured Bilbao, Leckie admitted he initially dismissed them — but after witnessing this decision, he said it’s no surprise conspiracy theories thrive.
A costly officiating blunder
The decision to ignore a blatant foul on Dessers stands as a shocking error that denied Rangers a fair shot at reaching the Europa League semi-finals.
Vivian’s clear foul warranted both a penalty and a red card, yet neither was given. The refusal by VAR to call for a review added to the farce, reinforcing concerns of bias or fear among officials.
Dessers’ yellow card further exacerbated the injustice, turning a pivotal moment into a double punishment for Rangers.
UEFA now faces serious questions over its officiating standards. For the integrity of European competitions, it’s vital that referees are not only competent but brave enough to make the right calls—regardless of who’s hosting the final.
