Alan Shearer cries Scotland penalty 'howler' at Euro 2024 as baffled pundit leads scathing VAR inquest

Raging Alan Shearer admits he was baffled why referee Facundo Tello was not sent to the monitor by VAR – insisting Scotland were denied a "clear" penalty.

The card-happy whistler wasn't shy in dishing out bookings throughout the crucial Euro 2024 showdown - with five Hungarians as well as Scott McTominay landing themselves yellow cards - but the Argentinian official opted not to act in the closing stages with Steve Clarke's men chasing a late winner. Stuart Armstrong was played through on goal by Manchester United man McTominay before being bundled over by defender Will Orban.

While loud appeals rang out in Stuttgart for a spot-kick, the man in the middle remained unmoved. The VAR team also opted not to send Tello to the monitor to review the incident – before Kevin Csoboth scored in injury time to send Scotland crashing out of the tournament.

Shearer was left infuriated by the decision, with the England legend stating: "I thought the referee gave a terrible decision when they should have had a penalty. It was a penalty all day. It’s a penalty all day. His right knee into his right calf – I mean that for me is a clear, clear penalty.”

Pressed by Gabby Logan on why VAR wouldn’t look at it, he responded: “You tell me? They would have looked at it.”

Former West Ham boss David Moyes was critical of the ref, chiming in: “The referee got too involved in too many other things, for me. He got involved in too much of the game. I think that is a penalty kick.”

Shearer went on: “I think VAR should be tell him you’ve made an absolute howler, it’s clear and obvious. You can see that it is. Clearly he has taken him down. That was a clear penalty.”

Moyes rounded off: “I am looking thinking that is a reckless challenge and we are getting a penalty kick. What is there, three or four minutes left in the game? For it not to go to VAR. We were all shouting saying it’s a penalty kick - so surely the people in VAR should be telling the referee you should be having another look at the screen.”

James McFadden also couldn't believe the call - with the Tartan Army hero adding: “He comes through the back of him. It’s clumsy, and I know people are going to think it’s because I’m Scottish but I can’t believe it wasn’t given on the field at the time.'