Scottish FA write to UEFA’s head of refereeing for clarification after Scott McTominay’s wonder goal was ruled out in 2-0 defeat to Spain

• Scotland needed just a point in Spain to secure qualification for the Euro 2024 
• An Alvaro Morata strike and Ryan Porteous goal ultimately sunk Scotland 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

The SFA have written to UEFA head of refereeing Roberto Rosetti seeking clarification on the confusion and contradictions surrounding Scott McTominay’s disallowed goal against Spain.

With Scotland chasing a single point to reach the Euro 2024 finals, McTominay’s stunning 59th-minute free-kick in Seville promised to go down as the strike which fired Steve Clarke’s side to Germany.

However, Dutch referee Serdar Gozubuyuk, who was referred to the pitchside monitor by VAR colleagues, initially gave a hand signal indicating that the goal had been disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Unai Simon and that information was forwarded to broadcasters.

Europe’s governing body have now confirmed that, after a 16-minute delay, the decision was actually changed to offside.

SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has now written to UEFA’s head of referees demanding answers over the chronology of events.

Scott McTominay’s free-kick was initially given and seemed to have sent Scotland to Euro 2024

The goal was ruled out for offside despite the referee being sent to view the pitchside monitor

After review Serdar Gozubuyuk chalked off the goal and instead awarded a free-kick to Spain

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Mail Sport understands that Scotland’s ruling body want answers to key questions, including:

• WHY the referee signalled a foul with his hand gesture, with that information then handed to broadcasters.

• WHY broadcasters were informed that the decision had been changed to offside 16 minutes later — yet a line graphic presented showed only one line.

• WHY the decision was changed for a third time to inform broadcasters that the goal had been ruled out because Scotland player Jack Hendry was deemed to have fouled goalkeeper Simon.

• WHY the original decision of the referee to award the goal was deemed a ‘clear and obvious error’ when the Spain keeper made no attempt to play the ball.

• WHY a clear foul against John McGinn was not given as a free-kick.

• WHY VAR failed to look at a penalty claim for Lyndon Dykes when McTominay’s free-kick was disallowed.

Pointing out that the decision to disallow the goal had a ‘material impact on the game’, the SFA have asked Rosetti for an explanation of the decisions made.

The SFA argued that the decision to overturn the goal had a material impact on the outcome

Steve Clarke claimed denying McTominay the goal robbed him of a James McFadden moment

Chalking off the McTominay goal lifted the home support in Estadio La Cartuja, with Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet then securing a 2-0 win for Spain.

Experienced Italian official Rosetti was supposed to be the original UEFA refereeing delegate at the game before pulling out for personal reasons. He was replaced by Pole Tomasz Mikulski.

Meanwhile, manager Clarke says the disallowed goal robbed McTominay of a James McFadden moment.

Tartan Army icon McFadden scored one of the most famous Scotland goals of all time in a memorable 1-0 win over France in Paris in 2007.

And McTominay’s effort was also set to go down in national folklore until the officials intervened.

‘It would have been, it really would have been (a moment of McFadden glory),’ said Clarke.

‘Look, the offside is really marginal. The fact that Jack steps forward is marginal and I’d say it’s open to interpretation. I don’t think the goalkeeper was saving it regardless, I’ve got to be honest. But that decision has gone against us and we have to take it on the chin and move on.’

Scotland are still set to qualify for the Euro finals if Spain avoid defeat in Norway on Sunday night, and Clarke insists his team have earned a trip to Germany next summer

James McFadden scored one of Scotland’s all-time great goals against France back in 2007

UEFA refereeing chief Roberto Rosetti was meant to be the delegate at the game but had to pull out for personal reasons

Scotland will still qualify for the finals next summer if Spain avoid defeat against Norway

‘It’s important to recognise that, if and when we qualify, it’s because of what we’ve done.

‘We could be sitting here with nine or ten points and everybody would be saying that’s alright going into the November games.

‘But we’re not, we’re sitting with 15 points. So if Norway don’t get the result that they need to stay in contention, it’s because of our work. Not because of what Spain do. It’s really important to get that message out there.’

McTominay’s strike raised hopes of a first-ever win in Seville for a Scottish side.

Like so many of the previous outings, the night ended in bitter, crushing defeat and ‘what ifs’.

‘We have to feel hurt,’ added the manager. ‘You can’t go away and just think: “We lost to Spain as they’re a great team” and just shrug it off and move on to the next one. You have to suffer.

‘We went to Spain honestly and truly thinking we would get something from the game so we could qualify at the first hurdle.

‘We came up a little bit short, and you could say there were different circumstances behind it… blah blah blah.

‘But, for me, the team was very good on the night. I have to praise them for that. But we lost the game and we now wait and see what happens on Sunday.’

Riding their luck in the first half, the Scots survived big openings for Spain and a strike against the base of the post.

After settling into the game, McTominay’s strike threatened to suck the air from Spain’s bubble. Lifted by the goal being ruled out, the Spanish players and their fans found a second wind.

Clarke said: ‘Thursday night was a big improvement when I look back at some of the away games we’ve had before against Pot One teams.

Alvaro Morata continued his fine vein of form scoring his 12th goal of the season 

It was heartbreak for Scotland after Ryan Porteous late own goal made it 2-0 to Spain

‘There have been games previously when we’ve just lost.

‘But Spain know they were in a game and that’s very important for us. We need to take that and move forward.’

While the performance was better than the 3-1 friendly defeat to England at Hampden last month, the Scots have now lost two games in succession ahead of a friendly against World Cup finalists France in Lille on Tuesday.

‘We want to learn how to play against the best,’ said Clarke, whose team still have two qualifiers to go against Georgia and the Norwegians. ‘I’ll probably make a few changes so I’ll be asking players to step onto the pitch and show they’re equally adept to going away from home against top nations and performing.’

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