The Scotland squad were left fuming after a contentious 1-0 defeat to Morocco in their World Cup group stage match. A lightning-fast opener from Ismael Saibari after just 70 seconds set the tone for a heated encounter, with the Scots feeling hard done by as they struggled to find a way back into the game.
Despite being denied what appeared to be two clear penalties in the second half, Scotland's efforts were ultimately thwarted by some resolute defending from the Moroccans. Former referee Christina Unkel weighed in on the controversy, suggesting that one of the non-awarded penalties was a 'clear and obvious mistake'.
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke refused to dwell on the refereeing decisions, instead choosing to focus on his team's performance. However, former Scotland internationals Neil McCann and James McFadden were more scathing in their criticism, with McCann going as far as to say that Morocco defender Issa Diop should have been given a straight red card.
For Scotland's players, the focus now turns to putting the controversy behind them and refocusing on their next match. As midfielder John McGinn pointed out, 'you can't rely on referees' decisions – we need to be better and create our own chances.' The Scots will need to regroup quickly if they're to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages.