In the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League qualifiers, both Glasgow Rangers and Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe have been eliminated from the tournament.
Rangers faced a tough exit after a 2-0 defeat to Dynamo Kyiv. The match shifted dramatically when Rangers’ defender Jefte received a second yellow card, leaving his team down a man. Dynamo Kyiv took full advantage, scoring two late goals to secure their victory. Rangers’ coach, Philippe Clement, voiced his frustration with the referee’s decisions, stating, “It’s disheartening for my team. They didn’t deserve this outcome after their performance against Dynamo Kyiv. One decision made a significant difference for us. This is only the second time in over 30 years of my career that such an injustice has occurred. We must accept it and focus on the league and the Europa League.”
Fenerbahçe also experienced disappointment as they were knocked out by Lille. Despite a late own goal that pushed the match into extra time, Lille emerged with a 3-2 aggregate win. Mourinho commented on the result, saying, “We have the potential to excel in the Europa League, but I prefer not to elaborate further to avoid controversy. The penalty decision is something only the referee and VAR understand. I am proud of my team, but the referee needs to respect the game and enforce the rules consistently. If yellow cards had been issued earlier, things might have been different.”
Other notable Champions League qualification results include Slavia Prague’s 4-1 aggregate win over Union Saint-Gilloise, Sparta Prague’s 4-3 aggregate victory over FCSB, and Qarabag’s impressive 7-2 triumph over Ludogorets.
