Alan Shearer baffled at VAR and officials as Scotland refused ‘clear penalty’

Alan Shearer insists Scotland were denied a “clear” penalty against Hungary with the England legend left baffled over why there was no VAR intervention.

The Scots screamed for a penalty late on and with the scores still tied at 0-0, when sub Stuart Armstrong raced into the box on the end of Scott McTominay’s pass. Hungarian defender Willi Orbán made a desperate attempt at a challenge to stop the midfielder having a clear shot at goal, and crashed through the back of him sending him sprawling to the turf.

Argentinian whistler Facundo Tello was unmoved and while the Scotland team were expecting a break for a VAR check, it didn’t come. Steve Clarke was fuming and let rip at the official post-match over his failure to give his team a spot kick. Shearer reckons he has a point.

The Newcastle hero says Orban clearly went through the back of Armstrong and that the assistant referee had a clear view of it.

Speaking on BBC, he said: “Clear penalty for me. I think the assistant just to the right of it had a great view of it also. It was one of the few occasions where Scotland actually penetrated the defence of Hungary and it’s a terrible challenge.

“He gets caught up, Orban. Look at him there, he takes him out there. His right knee onto his left calf. I mean, clearly. That for me was a clear, clear penalty.”

Asked why VAR wouldn’t have taken a look, he added: “You tell me.”

Clarke said post-match: “The goal comes as a consequence of us trying to win the game so the goal for me is almost irrelevant. The moment in the game is the penalty. It’s 100 percent a penalty. Someone has to explain to me why that’s not a penalty. Otherwise I’m thinking there’s something wrong.

“Have I had a talk with the referee? What’s the point, he’s from Argentina, what’s the point? Why is it not a European referee? Trying to be clever… I don’t know, I don’t understand. I don’t understand why he’s here and not in his own country, refereeing the game. I don’t understand how VAR can look at that and say it’s not a penalty. Just my opinion.”