Rangers vs Bilbao ref faces AXE by UEFA as top Spanish official goes swinging after 3 Ibrox blunders

A Spanish ref-turned-pundit wasn’t holding back after Istvan Kovacs showing at Ibrox

Romanian ref Istvan Kovacs should be axed by UEFA after making three blunders during Rangers’ draw with Athletic Bilbao, according to a former top Spanish ref.

Rangers managed a creditable goalless draw at home despite playing for most of the game with ten men after Robin Propper was sent off and the closing stages with nine men after Dujon Sterling went off injured.

But the Spaniards weren’t happy with the performance of top UEFA Kovacs and ex-ref turned pundit Pavel Fernandez reckons he got three key calls wrong.

He said: “UEFA should hand Istvan Kovacs a suspension for his poor game. He managed to miss a clear red card for Robin Propper, he missed a clear penalty for Maroan Sannadi and then made it worse by booking him for simulation.

“Then he somehow managed to miss the handball against Dujon Sterling. It’s true that he had his arms behind his back, but they were outstretched and it was a clear penalty.