Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has admitted he was "astounded" Scotland weren't awarded a penalty against Hungary.
The national team crashed out of Euro 2024 last night as a cruel 100th-minute winner from Kevin Csoboth ended any hopes of advancing from the group stage.
And manager Steve Clarke was left furious over the decision not to award a penalty when Stuart Armstrong went down in the box under challenge from Willi Orban.
❌ "The whole team of officials got it wrong..." Former referee Mike Dean agrees with Steve Clarke, insisting Scotland should have been awarded a penalty vs Hungary 🔽 pic.twitter.com/CBW5qGRxPv
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) June 24, 2024
Referee Facundo Tello waved away protests despite contact in the box with supporters and pundits convinced a spot-kick should have been given.
Now, former Premier League ref Dean has insisted it was a clear foul and a spot-kick should have been the decision - despite no VAR review even being called for at the pitchside monitor.
On Sky Sports, Dean explained: "I was a bit surprised if I am being honest with you. There was a bit of a tangle of upper body to start with but it is a clear foul, a clear knee on the back of the calf.
"Watching it in real time I thought the ref was going to give a penalty, it just felt penalty all day to everybody watching the game. I was surprised it wasn't given and even more surprised that the VAR didn't get involved.
"I think he would have got involved but I think he's probably looked at it, referee has probably given some kind of explanation through the earpiece, maybe said a tangle of legs maybe the attacker has instigated the contact, who knows.
"Whatever way you look at it and whatever he has said, it is just a clear penalty.
"They would have looked at it, VAR just agreed with the referee, wrongly in my opinion and wrongly in everyone's opinion by the sounds of it.
"It's unfortunate for Scotland, it is just a clear penalty and I was astounded it wasn't given."
Asked whether the referee was let down by his VAR colleagues, Dean added: "I would think so. I think the whole team of officials got it wrong on the evening."
