Ex-FIFA referee Hugh Dallas convinced Rangers should have had penalty at Dundee United
Rangers should have been awarded a penalty in the draw at Dundee United and VAR would have definitely caught it, according to former referee Hugh Dallas.
Fashion Sakala had his shirt pulled as he tried to convert the rebound from a Joe Aribo header, but it was missed by referee Bobby Madden who also turned down a first-half shout for handball against Ross Graham.
Former FIFA official Dallas expects VAR to be available in a year’s time because “100%” of referees want it, but says it would not have reversed the handball decision.
Speaking on Go Radio Dallas said, via Football Scotland: “There’s two incidents there and VAR would have probably got involved in one of them, but not the other.
“That’s easy [the Sakala incident] because VAR would have the images to ask the referee to go an on-field review.
“The referee would obviously go see that and correct his decision to award the penalty.
“On the handball one, it’s different because it’s not a clear and obvious error, in my opinion, so he wouldn’t have got involved in it.”
No comfort
It is scant consolation for Gers fans now to have their feelings validated after the event.
They have seen their side go from comfortably top of the league to trailing Celtic by three points since the start of 2022.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men bear their share of responsibility for that of course, but some bad luck has contributed also.
They were unlucky to see Ryan Kent red-carded in the Aberdeen draw and should have had a penalty on Sunday.
The Hoops were clearly better in the Old Firm derby but a couple of points different here and there would see the Ibrox side still top.
There is still plenty of time to claw back the difference and they are going to have to perform closer to their best in order to make their own luck if they want to avoid surrendering their title.
In other Rangers news, Joe Miller has taken a pop at the club’s form amid the row over Giorgos Giakoumakis’ comments.