Sigurd Rosted appeared to foul Joe Aribo inside the area as Rangers beat Brondby 2-0 at Ibrox in the Europa League on Thursday, not that referee Fran Jovic or the VAR agreed.
Rosted seemed to clip Aribo with an outstretched leg in the 57th-minute of the Glasgow affair to thwart the 25-year-old. Aribo produced a superb showing with an all-action display for Rangers to cause Brondby regular issues.
The Nigerian’s jinking run and cross had already led to Kemar Roofe doubling the Gers’ lead following Leon Balogun’s header. Rangers would have been almost home and dry had Jovic gave a penalty for Rosted’s seemingly clear foul on Aribo, and the Gers converted the kick.
Jovic waved away Rangers’ penalty protests for Rosted’s foul on Aribo and the VAR did not overturn the on-field decision. The incident incensed former Ibrox defender Richard Foster on BBC Sportsound (21/10, 21:19), who could not understand the official’s decision.
Foster noted how the VAR intervened to award Roofe’s goal after the linesman ruled the strike out for offside initially. Believing it was harder to judge Roofe was level with the last man than it was to spot Rosted’s foul.
“I’m bewildered,” he said. “That’s an easier decision to get right than Roofe’s goal. Aribo is brought down by the defender’s leg. It’s a penalty.”
Did Rosted foul Aribo in Rangers win over Brondby?
Jovic not awarding Rangers a penalty for Rosted’s apparent foul on Aribo ultimately did not cost Steven Gerrard’s side against Brondby. But a chance to go three-goals to the good may have ended the Superliga outfit’s hope of a late comeback.
Brondby came out after the break determined to find a route back into the tie after Roofe and Balogun’s goals. Rangers steadied the ship and would have been plain sailing again had Gerrard’s side scored the non-awarded penalty.
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