Pundit baffled by Callum Slattery red card v Rangers
Barry Ferguson was baffled by a number of controversial decisions in the SPFL this past weekend, including few from Rangers v Motherwell.
Gers won the game 4-2, but it was a contest marred by VAR, offsides and a red card to midfielder Callum Slattery.
As he was on a yellow, he received a red card after his arms collided with Todd Cantwell who went down and the referee thought that he had been elbowed which is why Slattery was given an early bath.
Ferguson told Go Radio: “I thought the two VAR decisions in terms of offside should have been off. But when the lines are drawn you see they are onside but clearly when I was watching at speed it was different. To the naked eye both looked offside.
“The Slattery decision – I know that never went to VAR – but the call was very harsh. It was a flick of the hand which you naturally do as a player to protect the ball. The reaction, going by the referee he’s thought it was an elbow but he was close enough to see it wasn’t. It was never a booking.
“Some of the decisions this weekend absolutely baffled me.”
Spot on
There wasn’t any intention to hurt the player and arms tend to get thrown around in the game and this one did not look like a red card.
VAR is here to correct these sorts of calls made by referees and it’s pretty clear that it’s not done its job properly, much to the annoyance of Motherwell.
Cantwell could be accused of making a meal out of it but sometimes that’s what’s needed as when players stay on their feet, they’re almost never given the foul.
Regardless, these were three important points for Rangers and even without the red card, it was a game that they would’ve won.
Michael Beale will have seen that his defence is still in tatters and that’s got to be worked on sooner rather than later.
Hopefully, the board make some wise decisions over the summer and back him with the players he needs otherwise Celtic could create an even bigger gap next season.
In other Rangers news, a pundit with insider information at Ibrox has shared one condition that will make Douglas Park leave the club.