Keith Hackett: Rangers penalty v Dundee was wrong, Bobby Madden decision surprised everyone
We’re delighted to welcome former Premier League referee Keith Hackett as our exclusive Rangers columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Ibrox…
Keith Hackett has insisted that Rangers did not deserve their penalty in the 2-1 win over Dundee on Sunday afternoon.
The ex-FIFA official believes that Bobby Madden surprised everyone by pointing to the spot, with James Tavernier blasting over anyway.
Alfredo Morelos was deemed to have been pulled back, but the ball was way over his head, something that led to big complaints.
“I’ve looked at this several times, I’m not sure where he’s got the penalty kick from,” he exclusively told Ibrox News.
“I think the ref has got this one wrong. I think he was some distance away from it. For me, I don’t think that is a penalty. He’s obviously seen something else that I’m not picking up, I don’t think that’s a penalty, I think he’s got it wrong – it’s football.
“He surprised everyone with that decision, referees should avoid surprises.”
Subjective.
This is one of those where if it is against your side, you are likely left raging after Madden pointed to the spot.
One argument coming from this is that the ball was never landing for Morelos to tap home, as it went way past him.
No one is denying that the tug on the shirt is clear, but the fact that the defender was not sent off proves that it wasn’t a goalscoring opportunity.
Allowing defenders to tug shirts as blatantly as that could create a dangerous consistency, and Madden finally had enough before pointing to the spot.
That can be used as a warning to the entire Scottish Premiership.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart has shared his reaction to a ‘huge’ development at Ibrox in the past month