Jose Cifuentes appeal ‘never’ going to succeed with Rangers now ‘struggling’ for Aberdeen final after Dundee win
The appeal against Jose Cifuentes’ red card vs Dundee is a “waste of a grand” for Rangers, according to Tam McManus.
Speaking on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show on 11 December the pundit accepted that the Ecuadorian’s tackle on Amadou Bakayoko in the 3-1 win at Ibrox wasn’t particularly violent or forceful but claimed the Gers will “never” win the appeal because it wasn’t a clear and obvious error by Kevin Clancy to send him off.
Cifuentes was shown red in first-half stoppage time after a VAR review on Saturday, to add to a midfield headache for Philippe Clement ahead of the Viaplay Cup final, with McManus pointing out “Rangers are struggling” at the position as reason for their appeal, but he and Neil Lennon think they have no chance.
McManus said: “Nah I think that’s a waste of a grand. It’s a red card by the letter of the law. I don’t think there was a lot of violent intent there, he just kind of lightly stamps on him.
“I don’t think he’s gone in there to do him, but they’re never going to change it. You can freeze every tackle and it can look bad but I don’t think there was a lot of violent intent going in there.
“They won’t win the appeal because there’s no clear and obvious error there. The referee’s made the decision and that’s it. They’re trying to get him back for the final. Rangers are struggling, they’re light in the midfield and they’re trying to get him back, but they won’t win that appeal.”
Lennon added: “It was clumsy more than anything wasn’t it? I don’t think there was a lot of force in it at all but I totally agree with Tam, it’s not a clear and obvious error by the referee.”
Timing
Unfortunately McManus and Lennon are probably right because a stamp with the studs coming down late on Bakayoko essentially fulfils the criteria for a sending off, even if most would probably accept it didn’t really warrant one.
That is often the case once the decision goes to a VAR review compared to the official making a decision in real time, and where Rangers have probably benefited from that with penalty-awards they are on the other side of it here.
Were it not for the fact that Nico Raskin, Ryan Jack and Tom Lawrence have all been injured already it likely wouldn’t be a huge problem, with Cifuentes’ form less than sparkling anyway, but Clement is already down to the bare bones in central midfield ahead of the Hampden clash next weekend (17 December).
So just as Cifuentes’ timing in the challenge was poor the timing of his likely suspension is terrible, unless there is a surprise change in the appeal.
Given the former LAFC’s struggles at Ibrox since his summer signing by Michael Beale it could be seen as throwing good money after bad on an appeal, even if the amount likely to be lost if far less than the club would love to have back from his and a few other transfers.
Lifting the League Cup against the Dons would be a major milestone in Rangers’ season and Clement’s time in charge, and would provide a huge boost as they look to overturn Celtic’s lead at the top of the SPFL after Brendan Rodgers’ side lost to Kilmarnock, so the significance of the final can’t be overstated.
In other Rangers news, Tom English was beside himself over a “grim” and “depressing” development at Ibrox.