- A referee who once sent off 10 players will officiate Scotland vs Hungary tonight
- Facundo Tello was once a subject of controversy for a Portugal World Cup game
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By Ed Carruthers and Luke Power
Published: | Updated:
Argentine referee Facundo Tello, who once sent off ten players during a single match, is set to take charge of Scotland's crunch Euro 2024 clash against Hungary on Sunday night.
Steve Clarke's side can still qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament, but will need to beat Hungary and hope Switzerland suffer defeat by Germany in order to finish second.
They will also need to ascertain a better goal difference than Switzerland to qualify and could also gain a berth in the last 16 if they are able to improve their goal difference - which currently sits at minus four.
Tello will be in the middle for tonight's game, having already taken charge of one game at Euro 2024 where he oversaw Turkey's gripping 3-1 victory against Georgia last Tuesday.
During that match, the 42-year-old, who is the only non-UEFA official to referee a game at the tournament, gave out three yellow cards during that match.
Facundo Tello, who will referee Scotland vs Hungary, once sent off 10 players in a match
The Argentinian sent off 10 players when Boca Juniors and Racing Club played in the 2022 Champions Trophy final
The match had to be stopped, with Tellowith Racing 2-1 up because Boca Juniors only had six players left on the pitch
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It means that during his career, Tello has shown a whopping 105 yellow cards and in all competitions he has refereed in.
While the record for red cards given in a match is 36 - yes, 36, the 10 he handed out for a match in 2022 is still some going.
Tello brandished 10 red cards in a Champions Trophy final clash between Argentine giantsBoca Juniors and Racing Club in November 2022.
That match had to be stopped with Racing 2-1 up because Boca Juniors only had six players left on the pitch - below the minimum limit of seven.
Tello, a FIFA International Referee, and his two assistants are at Euro 2024 after a collaboration between UEFA and CONMEBOL, the governing body for South American football.
In that deal,Italian referee Maurizio Mariani goes in the opposite direction to officiate in the Copa America this summer.
Tello was also a referee at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where his presence was the subject of controversy when Portugal lost to Morocco.
Bruno Fernandes and Pepe accused him of bias and insisted that it was wrong for him to officiate while Argentina were in the competition.
Tello (right) had officiated Turkey's 3-1 victory against Georgia and brandished three yellow cards
Tello (back left) was also a referee at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where his presence was the subject of controversy when Portugal lost to Morocco
Speaking after the game, Pepe referenced the aftermath of Argentina's dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands as a reason why he felt the odds were being tipped in the South American nation's favour.
Lionel Messi, Emi Martinez and various other members of the Argentina squad criticised referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz for his performance in Friday's quarter-final.
The Argentine goalkeeper, Martinez, also accused Lahoz of wanting Holland to advance despite their eventual penalties victory.
'We conceded a goal that we didn't expect. But I have to say: it's unacceptable for an Argentine to referee our game,' Pepe said. 'After what happened yesterday, with Messi speaking. All of Argentina speaking and an Argentine referee comes to whistle.
Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo were furious that he was allowed to referee their match against Morocco at the 2022 World Cup while his homeland Argentina were still in the competition
Georgia are making their Euros debut against Turkey and hope to make a splash in Dortmund
'After what I saw today, they can give the title to Argentina now.'
Fernandes echoed his team-mate's sentiments, saying the referee's decision not to award him a penalty was particularly incredulous.
'Don't touch me, I'll say what I have to say,' said the midfielder. 'It's very strange to have a referee who still has their national team in the competition and we don't have a Portuguese referee.
'Ours referee the Champions League, so they have the quality and level to be here. They don't referee Champions League, they are not used to this type of game, they don't have the pace for this.
'They clearly leaned the field. In the first half there is a clear penalty on me. I am isolated and never in my life will I let myself fall when I am alone in front of the goalkeeper and I can shoot on goal in a situation like that.'
Euro 2024Georgia FootballTurkey Football
