Uefa chiefs fume at Scotland boss Steve Clarke over Argentinian referee rant

SENIOR Uefa figures have been left furious at Steve Clarke’s Euro 2024 Argentine referee blast.

The Scotland boss faces a sweat to see if he’ll be punished for his post-match outburst at whistler Facundo Tello.

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Raging Clarke rounded on the official for failing to award a spot-kick when Stuart Armstrong was felled in the box by Hungary’s Willi Orban in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat.

Scotland’s hopes of a historic qualification for the knockout stage were then ended by Kevin Csoboth’s 100th-minute strike for the Magyars.

That was the final straw for Clarke, who blasted the South American official in his post-match press conference — questioning why he was even involved in a European tournament.

Insiders believe Clarke could be carpeted, with the Uefa disciplinary body expected to study reports from events surrounding the game.

Any punishment could come in the form of a fine and even a touchline ban when Scotland begin their Nations League bid — in League A for the first time — in September.

Speaking after the Hungary loss, Clarke said: “It’s a penalty kick. Why’s it not given?

“I need an answer. I need to know why that’s not given. It’s a penalty kick. I’ve got words for it… but I’m not going to use them.”

Quizzed over whether he had questioned the official, he added: “He’s from Argentina — 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?”

But senior Uefa figures are furious at Clarke’s response and the nature of his comments on Tello’s nationality.

All 19 whistlers chosen by Uefa refs’ chief Roberto Rosetti, including the Argentine Tello, speak a high standard of English.

Rosetti described Tello as “the best referee in South America” before the tournament, adding the Argentine was “an excellent referee” and that “I fought to have this guy here”.

Argentina’s refereeing body accused Clarke of being ‘rude’ for his criticism of Tello following the controversial flashpoint.

He has won praise in his own country from the Institute of Argentina Refereeing’s director, Miguel Scime — an ex-Fifa referee who now advises the world football’s governing body.

He wasn’t impressed at Clarke’s outburst following the Group A clash in Stuttgart.

He said: “That was a very good job by Facundo Tello and his team of assistants, Gabriel Chade and Ezequiel Brailovsky for the match between Scotland and Hungary.

“I was very sorry Scotland tried to justify their failure to qualify with the comments the coach made.

“It wasn’t a penalty and his comments after the game were just rude.

“No one has the right to criticise the refereeing team in that way.”

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