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Ex-FIFA referee weighs in on Kevin Clancy VAR controversy for Rangers and Ryan Kent
Rangers were rightly awarded a penalty for a foul on Ryan Kent in the draw with St Mirren, according to Dermot Gallagher.
James Tavernier levelled from the spot late on in Paisley, after VAR overturned Kevin Clancy’s decision to show the Light Blues winger a yellow card for diving when he was felled by Marcus Fraser.
Former FIFA official Gallagher lauded the midseason introduction of video technology in Scotland, highlighting how Clancy’s mistake would have otherwise stood, and dismissed complaints from detractors who claim it is unfair.
Speaking on Sky Sports Ref Watch on Monday (14 November) Gallagher said: “The ball’s the clue. The ball goes and the defender doesn’t get the ball – that’s clear for me.
“Is it a foul? Yes.
“This is the good thing about VAR – without it, that wouldn’t have been given a penalty in Scotland.
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“People say, ‘They’ve brought it in halfway [through the season], it’s not right, it’s not fair on what’s happened before’.
“But do you want to continue to see that not given or do you want to take the initiative and say, ‘Yep, that’s a foul’?”
Obvious
VAR creates endless arguments wherever it is in effect, and it will no doubt do the same in Scotland from now on.
But everybody was just as upset before it was brought in so it should be highlighted when it has done its job, as it did on Saturday (12 November).
Refereeing is a difficult job but Clancy clearly got this one wrong the first time around.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst might be about to lose his job after Rangers dropped more points in the 1-1 draw, but he could have gone already had the penalty not been given and his side fell to another defeat.
Some fans might be wishing that on this occasion that had happened, to put them out of their misery with the Dutchman’s reign currently crumbling.
Ultimately any time the right decision can be reached it is a positive, and Gers fans will have to hope the spark that Kent was able to inject late on might be the start of something for him after the World Cup.
If he had been awarded nothing but a booking it could have wiped out whatever confidence he currently has with the squad struggling so badly.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart named two Light Blues the manager should trust while demanding to know what has happened to exciting sensation who has vanished.