VAR who denied Scotland Euro penalty lifeline v Hungary has history of blunders

THE VAR official who refused to give Scotland a lifeline Euro 2024 penalty has a history of blunders in crucial games we can reveal — days after he was axed from the tourney.

VAR boss Alejandro Hernandez, 41, has been told to get an eye test after he was sent home for failing to award a lifeline spot kick for the national side in the showdown with Hungary.

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It comes months after the Spaniard was trolled by the opticians for refusing a stonewall penalty for West Ham during a Europa League tie.

Argentinian Ref Facundo Tello, 42, was the fourth official for Switzerland’s shock win over Italy after he didn’t give Scotland the chance to go ahead after Stuart Armstrong was brought down in the box before the Hungarian’s got an injury time winner.

But Uefa last night insisted the Scot had initiated contact and “changed his direction towards the defender”.

Iain Emerson, editor of the Famous Tartan Army Magazine, says the officials should reach out to the opticians again.

He told The Scottish Sun on Sunday: “It was a definite penalty.

“It’s one thing for the referee to miss it, but for VAR to not call it is even more surprising.

“Anybody watching from the stands or on telly could see it was a stonewaller.

“Sending them home now is a like bolting the barn door after the horse has bolted.

“It looks as if Uefa can see what the rest of saw.

“It was a very costly decision not to give a penalty.

“Perhaps the pair of them should go get that free eye test.”

Uefa announced on Thursday it had sent the pair packing ruling Tello out from a mooted knockout stages fourth official role.

VAR man Hernández also failed to flag up a foul on Armstrong and a first-half penalty shout for the Hungarians after defender Grant Hanley elbowed Endre Botka.

He has been hated by fans in his homeland after he failed to notice a Luis Suarez goal for Barcelona crossed the goal line by nearly 60cm in a La Liga clash.

The side went on to draw the game and finished second in the table to Real Madrid by just three points in 2017.

Hammers fans also railed against the referee when he denied them an obvious penalty as they lost 1-0 to Freiburg in March.

Play was stopped for five minutes after winger Noah Weisshaupt handled the ball in his own box during the last-16 first leg in Germany.

Hernández went to the pitchside monitor but opted not to give a spot kick.

He was trolled for the decision, with Specsavers posting on X: “Please could everyone involved get in touch immediately.”

The firm sponsors match officials in Scotland.

National team manage Steve Clarke may face disciplinary charges from Uefa after comments about the refereeing performance after the match in Stuttgart last Sunday.

He said: “He probably doesn’t speak the language.

“Why is there not a European referee?”

Uefa yesterday insisted the officials had got the decision right.

Refs’ boss Roberto Rosetti said: “Of course VAR checked it.

“They check everything.”

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