Dermot Gallagher says Rangers should have had a penalty vs Dundee United
Rangers should have been awarded a penalty and been playing against ten men against Dundee United, according to ex-FIFA referee Dermot Gallagher.
The Bears were denied a penalty in the second half of their 1-1 draw with Dundee United on Sunday when Ross Graham pulled Fashion Sakala’s shirt in the six yard line as he prepared to tap into an empty net.
Blues fans were furious at the time and now while appearing on Sky Sports News, former Premier League referee Gallagher has admitted that they were right to be.
“I think here this is a penalty,” he said.
“And I think that if the referee gives a penalty it’s also a red card, because if you look he grabs so much of his shirt while he’s just about there to kick it in the next and he gets pulled back.
“So I think, if a penalty was given, which I think it should’ve been, then it’s also a red card for Graham.”
Fury
Ultimately, this is a decision that could really cost Rangers the title in the long run because it was so obviously a penalty.
The fact that Sakala’s shot gets blocked is completely irrelevant, because the shirt pull impedes him and anywhere else on the pitch it’s given as a foul.
The referee has completely messed up the call and Rangers have every right to feel aggrieved about it, considering they ended up getting an equaliser late on to earn a point.
The level of officiating in Scotland has often been criticised and the introduction of VAR would be a welcome boost to help them, but it’s too little too late now.
Rangers now need to make their performances count where those types of decisions don’t affect them anymore because they’re already ahead. Take the referees out of the equation and take your chances when they fall to you.
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