Sneaky Spaniard Pedro Porro was branded a “disgrace” and "embarrassing" for playacting after Andy Robertson escaped with a booking in a controversial first half incident of the Euro 2024 qualifier at Hampden.
Leading through Scott McTominay’s early opener, Swiss referee Sandro Scharer flashed a yellow card at the Scotland skipper after going to ground when Robertson appeared motion his arm towards the Spurs man, who was substituted at the break. But Liverpool star Robertson and his team-mates were furious with Porro’s antics as he rolled around on the turf clutching his face. Michal Stewart, co-commentating on Viaplay, for the huge Euro 2024 showdown was also raging. He said: “There's nothing in that. He goes down but there's nowhere near enough in it. It's embarrassing."
Leanne Crichton, on BBC, was stronger and said: “Nothing for me. Andy Robertson also nudges into the player. There is no contact in his face. There’s certainly contact in the body but he’s gone down rolling about holding his face as if he’s been punched. There’s minimal contact at best - it’s a disgrace.”
But former Scotland defenders Craig Levein and Willie Miller reckon Robertson was skating on thin ice. Miller said: “He’s motioned towards his chin with his elbow. It’s the interpretation of it.
Levein added: “There was a definite movement with the top of his arm/shoulder into the player’s face. There’s enough in that for me. He could be in trouble. I know he goes down and rolls about and all the rest of it but Robertson didn’t need to do that.”
Striker Joselu also felt Stewart's wrath when he went down looking for a penalty. Grant Hanley ran across the back of him, but the Spaniard threw himself up in the air before throwing a temper tantrum when he didn't get the decision. There was a VAR check, but they saw what everyone else did and it was play on. Stewart said: "That's embarrassing. Joselu throws himself up in the air. Your first reaction watching it is that it's a dive and the replay confirms it."
