The official promptly paused proceedings as fireworks were set off overhead the Ibrox pitch from outside of the stadium. A pyro display coincided with the fireworks.
Jablonski resumed the match after the momentary pause with smoke billowing across the pitch and out of the stadium.
Moments later and Lyon snatched an early lead with Malick Fofana curling into the bottom corner. There were no incidents in the lead up to the goal making the award simple for Jablonski.
On 14 minutes, Tom Lawrence levelled for Rangers as he pounced on a rebound to poke home from close range. Jablonski correctly awarded the goal with a VAR check confirming the decision as natural contact between Cyriel Dessers and the Lyon keeper Lucas Perri was not penalised.
Lyon would retake the lead four minutes later as Alexandre Lacazette stroked home from the centre of the box after a smart cutback from Fofana. Again, there were no issues in the attacking phase of play with Connor Barron gifting Lyon the ball and being punished.
John Souttar was unfortunate to pick up a yellow card in the first half for a foul in the middle of the park. Jablonski was right to award a free-kick but it was a nothing challenge and Souttar was harshly carded. Centre-back partner Robin Propper avoided a yellow card for a barge on Lacazette seconds earlier.
While there were no major issues in any of the first three goals at Ibrox, Lyon’s third was shrouded in controversy over claims of an offside in the build-up.
Lacazette smashed home from range to make it 3-1 but Rangers players felt there was an offside on Fofana as well as the ball having gone out before it was passed to Lacazette.
Jablonski had little chance of spotting the offside but wasn’t helped by his assistants Eduard Beitinger or Sascha Thielert in making a decisive call.
No offside was given but replays appeared to show an incredibly tight call with a Lyon forward potentially offside before Lacazette’s finish.
However, the VAR check of the incident was made more difficult as Jablonski unintentionally blocked the ball being played throwing some guesswork into the frame used for the offside call.
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Jablonski will be disappointed to have his largely decent outing ruined by controversy as he had no chance of making a call himself and was unfortunate to be in the wrong spot to make the job of VAR officials more difficult in determining the offside call.
With no clear visual that an offside was certain, Jablonski had little option but to award the goal.
Rangers had appeals for a handball on Duje Caleta-Car before the break but it was quickly waved away with replays showing that was the right call.
Into the second half and Connor Barron was booked for a tackle on Corentin Tolisso. It was an honest attempt for the ball but Barron got it wrong with a caution correct.
Lyon’s fourth of the evening was awarded without issue as Rayan Cherki crossed for Fofana to poke home at the back post.
Jablonski stopped play on a couple of occasions to check on Lyon players after collisions – Tolisso and Lacazette went down. The ref was rightly not interested in either coming together and urged both players back to their feet before resuming play.
On the hour mark Dessers appealed for a penalty kick as he clashed with Moussa Niakhate in the box. There’s no doubt the Lyon player had hold of Dessers but the Rangers striker was also grappling with no penalty the right decision.
Jablonski did then miss a clear foul for Rangers with Mohamed Diomande felled on the edge of the area by a rival player. The German official played on but there was clear contact on Diomande and a free-kick should have been awarded.
Cherki was the first Lyon player in the book as he flicked the ball away after a throw in going in the opposite direction. He was joined by Jordan Veretout moments later for a rash challenge on Nico Raskin with a caution the right call.
Raskin and Tolisso were involved in a minor spat in the final few minutes. Tolisso looked to have overreacted as he then entered a heated exchange with the Rangers player – neither were booked as Joblonski stepped in to resolve the issue.
Rangers supporters were frustrated by Jablonski who did miss a handful of free-kicks but most of his evening was straight forward. The glaring issue, however, came in the marginal offside call with the VAR replays not conclusive and leaving room for question as Rangers fell further behind.
