Scotland coach Steve Clarke questioned why an Argentine referee officiated the Scotland vs Hungary Euro 2024 match instead of a European official.

Scotland was eliminated from Euro 2024 with a 1-0 loss to Hungary in a tightly contested game where both teams pushed for a win in the final moments.

Hungary clinched victory with a 100th-minute goal by substitute Kevin Csoboth, leaving Scotland disappointed as they felt they should have been given a penalty. Striker Stuart Armstrong was brought down by Willi Orban in the box, but despite appeals, Argentine referee Facundo Tello did not award a penalty.

After the match, Scotland's coach Clarke voiced his frustration in an interview with BBC Sport, questioning why a referee from Argentina was officiating a European competition and suggesting that a European referee might have been a better choice.

Clarke questioned the purpose of VAR when a clear penalty incident was overlooked by the referee on the pitch. He pointed out that despite having a European VAR, the challenge may not have been seen clearly. Clarke criticized the situation, stating that it was a clear penalty that should have been reviewed.

"It's a penalty, I do not know for the life of me why it's not given," Clarke was quoted as saying told BBC.

When asked about if he seeked for any clarification from the official, he responded, "He's from Argentina. How would I ask him? Probably doesn't speak the language, I don't know. Why's he here, why's it not a European referee?"

Euro 2024; Why did an Argentina referee officiate Hungary vs Scotland Match?

Facundo Tello became only the second non-European referee to officiate a match at the Euros, following his compatriot Fernando Rapallini at Euro 2020. Although a section of fans asked the legitimacy of the Argentine referee officiating, it is part of a collaboration between UEFA and CONBEMOL.

UEFA's decision to select Tello for the tournament was based on a collaborative agreement with CONMEBOL, UEFA's South American counterparts.

Italian referee Maurizio Mariani is currently working at the Copa America in the United States as part of the agreement, while Tello is officiating at Euro 2024.

Tello was in charge of three matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and made headlines before and during the tournament.

Before the World Cup in 2022, he sent off 10 players during a fiery match between Boca Juniors and Racing Club in Argentina's Champions Trophy final. After Portugal's 1-0 loss to Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals, Tello faced strong criticism from Portugal's players.