STEVE CLARKE GOES ON FURIOUS RANT ABOUT ARGENTINE REFEREE WHO FAILED TO AWARD SCOTLAND A PENALTY AGAINST HUNGARY, SCOFFING 'HE PROBABLY DOESN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE' AND ASKING 'WHY IS THERE NOT A EUROPEAN REFEREE?'

• Scotland were knocked out of Euro 2024 after losing 1-0 to Hungary on Sunday
• The match was officiated by Facundo Tello, one of Argentina's best referees
• Click here to follow Mail Sport's Euro 2024 WhatsApp Channel for all the latest breaking news and updates from Germany

Steve Clarke questioned UEFA's appointment of referee Facundo Tello based on his nationality after Scotland were knocked out of Euro 2024 by Hungary on Sunday.

Scotland boss Clarke saw his side fall to a 1-0 defeat in Stuttgart that left them with just one point from their three group games.

After failing to record a single shot on target, Scotland deserved to lose, although Hungary's winning goal did not arrive until the 100th minute.

However, the Scots may well have won had a strong penalty appeal in the 79th minute not been turned down by Tello and his team of South American officials.

Southampton's Stuart Armstrong went down in the box following contact from Hungary defender Willi Orban, but Tello waved play on and was not asked to review the incident by his VAR assistants.

Clarke was asked about the incident in a post-game interview with ITV.

'It's a penalty,' said Clarke. 'I do not know for the life of me why it's not given.'

Clarke was then asked if he had spoken to the referee to question why the penalty was not awarded and why it was not the subject of an on-screen VAR review.

'He's from Argentina,' Clarke replied. 'Why would I ask him? He probably doesn't speak the language. I don't know. Why is he here? Why is there not a European referee?'

Nineteen referees were called up to officiate at Euro 2024, with 18 of them coming from UEFA nations.

When the list of officials were announced in April, a UEFA statement explained the decision to call-up Tello - who also took charge of Turkey's 3-1 win over Georgia last week.

The statement read: 'In addition, as for UEFA EURO 2020 and as part of the co-operation between UEFA and the South American Football Confederation CONMEBOL, a referee from Argentina, together with his two assistants, will join the European group of referees at the final tournament in Germany.'

Argentine ref Fernando Rapallini oversaw three games at Euro 2020, including Scotland's 3-1 defeat by Croatia at Hampden Park.

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