Dermot Gallagher shares verdict on Ryan Kent controversy from Rangers win v Aberdeen

Ryan Kent should have been yellow carded for his lashing out during the Rangers win against Aberdeen in the ViaPlay Cup semi-final.

That's according to former Premier League and FIFA referee Dermot Gallagher, who believes Kent "flicked" his opponent rather than punching him as has been suggested by many since the game ended.

But Kent would only have been yellow carded had the referee seen the incident take place anyway in Gallagher's opinion.

"This is a tough one for the referee because it's behind his back," he said while speaking on Sky Sports News' "Ref Watch" segment (16 January).

"VAR looks at it. I don't think he has swiped like Liam says he does.

"He flicks out at him but it's not a punch. So I think if the referee sees it, he probably gives the yellow card."

Lucky

Gallagher has had the benefit of the replays on several occasions and over 24 hours of time to think it over, not to mention the fact that he wasn't in the stadium.

Kent clearly lashed out in anger at his opponent for tugging away at him on the halfway line and whether it was a punch or a flick, it was probably violent conduct.

To say that Kent is a lucky boy for not getting sent off and being suspended for the final against Celtic next month would be a huge understatement, regardless of who it is that you support.

But with that said, there have been plenty of decisions that have gone against us in the past that shouldn't have and as we're always told - they balance themselves out over the course of the season.

We can count ourselves lucky this time, even if Gallagher doesn't believe we were lucky and that it would only have been a yellow card anyway.

In other Rangers news, one of the club's transfer targets has made a move to Ibrox his preference this month