Michael Stewart fumes live on BBC Sportscene amid Rangers red card controversy v Ross County
Michael Stewart says it was “ludicrous” that James Sands wasn’t sent off for Rangers during their 4-0 win over Ross County on Saturday afternoon.
The Gers turned in a dominant performance as they cruised to victory thanks to goals from John Lundstram, a brace for Antonio Colak and a late Steven Davis strike.
But the team were lucky not to be down to ten men when Sands hauled down Ross County striker Jordy Hiwula on the halfway line when already on a yellow card, and Stewart told BBC Sportscene [August 27] it was an incredible decision not to even give a foul.
“Malky Mackay is quite rightly upset,” he said. “They need everything to go their way if they are to get anything from the game.
“There’s the non-red card. Forget a second yellow card, it’s a red card and it’s a ludicrous decision from the referee.
“I’d love to know what Don Robertson actually thinks has happened. For him not to give a foul, not to give a yellow or the red card is an incredible decision.
“James Sands is in the wrong position, Hiwula has spun him and it’s not a difficult decision for the referee.
“When you look at the first yellow it’s so similar. It’s impossible to say what influence it would have in the game because we don’t know because it didn’t happen.”
Shocker
In all fairness, this was a pretty shocking decision to not give from the referee and we absolutely got away with one on this occasion.
But it’s very easy to forget we were 2-0 up and cruising already and the team was more than strong enough to be able to hold out for the three points in front of an electric Ibrox crowd.
Despite that though, it was a poor decision from the referee and while we benefitted from it on this occasion it just goes to show how low the level of officiating is in this country right now.
There seems to be a poor call in every Rangers game so far this season, whether in our favour or against us, and now the outrage will continue simply because this one went for us.
When it goes against us and we drop points there is far less outrage, and it just goes to show that we’re the most hated in Scotland. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton slaughters Rangers star after Ross County development