David Martindale: ‘Three or four’ Rangers players could not believe controversy v Livingston
David Martindale has claimed that “three or four” Rangers players told him they couldn’t believe Abdallah Sima’s opening goal stood against Livingston.
Michael Beale’s side made it four wins on the spin on Wednesday (27 September) in the ViaPlay Cup with a 4-0 win over Livi, thanks to goals from Sima, Ridvan Yilmaz, Ryan Jack and an own-goal from Luiyi Perez to advance to the semi-final.
But the Livingston manager was left irritated by the decision to allow Sima’s opener after the forward appeared to shove Jamie Brandon in the back before curling his finish into the back of the net and he claims even some of his teammates were surprised by the decision.
Speaking to Livi TV, as quoted by Football Scotland (28 September) he said: “The first goal is the game changer when you came away to Ibrox, Parkhead, the big clubs, it’s really really difficult. The first goal changes the dynamic of the game and it is a foul on Jamie. I can say more here than I can on TV, it’s a blatant foul.
“I’m not going to tell you who I spoke to, I spoke to three of four Rangers players and they’re all saying the same thing – ‘can’t believe the goal was given, can’t believe that it wasn’t a foul’.
“Now I can pretty much guarantee we’re not getting that if it’s at the other end of the park.”
Role reversal
It was a slight surprise to not see the referee put his whistle to his lips to deny Sima’s goal and who knows how the game would have panned out had the goal been ruled out, maybe it would’ve provided the away side with a bit more momentum to cause an upset.
But the same could have been said of the Old Firm derby earlier in the season when Kemar Roofe saw what would have been his opener ruled out after Cyriel Dessers was adjudged to have committed a foul during the build-up to the goal.
Rangers were rightfully angry then, as Livingston and Martindale have every right to be after they were on the wrong end of the decision, but this happens every season in football and throughout a campaign, the decisions tend to even themselves out.
You would hope with VAR in effect that these decisions were made without upsetting either set of fans, however, it seems that these sorts of contentious decisions are now more apparent than ever. Rangers may well have got away with one at Ibrox this time, but you can guarantee they’ll be on the receiving end sooner rather than later.
In other Rangers news, James Bisgrove has teased an expansion to Ibrox could be coming soon