BBC pundit stunned by ‘incredible’ James Sands footage as Rangers controversy emerges v Ross County
James McFadden found it “absolutely incredible” that James Sands managed to avoid a red card as Rangers beat Ross County 4-0 at Ibrox on Saturday.
Sands, 22, was booked by referee Don Robertson in the 10th minute for a cynical foul on Jordy Hiwula.
Not long after, with the game still goalless, Sands pulled Hiwula down again but this time with the Ross County forward seemingly through on goal with no covering defenders for Rangers.
Robertson didn’t even award a foul in favour of Ross County and BBC pundit McFadden was stunned that the USA international wasn’t shown a straight red card.
“[I’m] massively surprised for everything,” said McFadden on BBC Scotland’s Sportscene on Saturday night (27 August, 12m30s).
“This is the first one, which is not too dissimilar, the only difference is Connor Goldson is covering for him.
“But forget the fact he’s on a yellow when it comes to the second one, it’s a red card.
“Giovanni van Bronckhorst is smiling because he knows his team has gotten away with one this week and it’s just incredible.
“There’s nothing obstructing the referee’s view. I mean, how he’s deemed there’s nothing there is absolutely incredible.
“It should be a red card.”
Fortunate
Sands should have been sent off.
There are simply no ifs and buts about it and Robertson should be seriously questioned by the SPFL as to why he didn’t at the very least show the American a second yellow card.
He didn’t even blow for a foul.
We’re obviously biased towards Rangers but even we can see that’s a red card all day long for denying a very clear goalscoring opportunity for Hiwula.
Last week, we were on the rough end of a terrible decision for John Lundstram to be sent off against Hibernian by Willie Collum.
That red card was rescinded but ultimately, we dropped two points and that can be put down to having the English midfielder – as well as Alfredo Morelos – sent off.
Sands’ lucky escape could be just the way things have balanced out for us but let’s face it, Robertson had a far simpler decision with Sands than Collum did with Lundstram.
Lundstram’s was a booking, no more.
Sands was a straight red card and there’s no denying that.
Even the most hardened of Bear must be able to admit that it was a terrible call by the whistler.
In other Rangers news, the club wants to sign this multi-million player after a £16.9million development this week.