BBC duo Leanne Crichton and Marvin Bartley fume at Bobby Madden for Rangers incident v Dundee United
BBC Sportscene duo Leanne Crichton and Marvin Bartley have taken aim at Bobby Madden for missing a “Stonewall” Rangers penalty against Dundee United.
Fashion Sakala looked certain to tap home at Tannade but nearly had his shirt ripped off by Ross Graham, something that was missed by Madden and his assistant.
Crichton couldn’t believe it wasn’t spotted, with Bartley following up admitting it would have been a red card, too.
Speaking on BBC Sportscene last night (20 February) Crichton took aim at the decision, as it wasn’t given.
“This one here, we’ve looked at it a couple of times now, it’s a stonewall penalty,” she said. “No doubt about it.”
“It’s a pull on Sakala, Bobby Madden doesn’t see it, the assistant referee doesn’t see it but there’s a pull there.”
Bartley responded to the incident in the second half and couldn’t believe that Madden didn’t see the pull of the shirt.
“He’s not trying to play the ball, so that’s the rule,” he responded.
“If you go in for a slide tackle and you’re trying to play the ball but mistime it, it’s a booking, but he’s not trying to.”
Embarrassing.
How much longer can this standard of officiating go on for in Scotland?
The likes of Madden are just getting worst by the week, and it is starting to play a serious role in the Scottish Premiership title race now.
Dundee were denied a clear penalty at Celtic after this game, too, and it is beyond a joke that these things are being missed.
Having said that, the Bears had more than enough chances to take home the three points from Tannadice, and sometimes you have to accept fault yourself for letting the gap extend at the top.
There are still Old Firms to be played this season, and they will go a long way to deciding this title, but let’s hope it is decided through quality, and not a shocking piece of officiating.
This has been the best title race in years in Scottish football, and the Bears are going to give it a real go with time running out – as for Madden, sort it out.
In other Rangers news, this BBC pundit was left ‘screaming’ after major transfer development at Ibrox