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?’

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

Scottish manager Clarke saw his team go down 1-0 in Stuttgart, leaving them with just one point from their three group stage games.

After failing to manage a single shot on goal, Scotland deserved to lose, although Hungary’s winning goal did not come until the 100th minute.

However, the Scots could well have won if Tello and his team of South American referees had not rejected a strong penalty appeal in the 79th minute.

Southampton’s Stuart Armstrong went down in the box after contact from Hungarian defender Willi Orban, but Tello waved play on and his VAR assistants did not ask him to review the incident.

Tello did not award a penalty after Stuart Armstrong (right) fell to the ground in the 79th minute.

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

“It’s a penalty,” Clarke said. “I don’t know why it doesn’t happen.”

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

“He’s from Argentina,” Clarke replied. ‘Why would I ask him? She probably doesn’t speak the language. I don’t know. Why is he here? Why is there no European referee?

Nineteen referees were called to officiate at Euro 2024, 18 of them from UEFA countries.

Scotland manager Steve Clarke became furious after the match and questioned Tello’s appointment.

Tello, 42, is the only referee from a non-UEFA country who will work at Euro 2024 this summer.

When the referee list was announced in April, a UEFA statement explained the decision to call on Tello, who also refereed Turkey’s 3-1 victory over Georgia last week.

The statement read: “In addition, as for UEFA EURO 2020 and as part of the cooperation 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 in the final phase in Germany”.

Argentine referee Fernando Rapallini oversaw three Euro 2020 matches, including Scotland’s 3-1 defeat to Croatia at Hampden Park.