Sir Kenny Daglish reacts to ‘unusual’ Rangers incident after Dujon Sterling red card v Aberdeen
Sir Kenny Daglish says it’s “unusual” to see referees go over to the VAR monitor and stick by their on-field decision after Dujon Sterling’s red card for Rangers against Aberdeen.
The defender was shown a straight red card for a tackle that was deemed high and dangerous late on at Ibrox, which will result in a three-game ban should the club’s appeal be rejected.
Referee Don Robertson handed Sterling a red card quickly after the challenge and stuck by his decision after VAR intervened and asked him to go over to the monitor.
Daglish shared in his column in the Sunday Post print edition (11 February, back page) that it was “unusual” to see the referee take such an approach but it was “refreshing” with the red card left open for debate.
He wrote: “Robertson red-carded Sterling of Rangers and stood by his decision to do so after being asked by VAR, Greg Aitken.
“It’s unusual to see referee not change their minds when they go to the pitchside monitors, but it is also refreshing to see them stand by their original call.
“At the end of the day, the red-card decisions are all about opinion. They are not factual and Sterling’s and Bolton’s were definitely open to debate.”
Rangers will have felt hard done by after Dujon Sterling red card
There’s no doubting that Rangers should be feeling hard done by with this incident, because there aren’t many people who feel a red card was deserved.
It wasn’t as if Sterling wanted to intentionally hurt his opponent with that challenge as he was clearly trying to get to the ball rather than the man.
Of course, the viewing looked worse in slow motion but not all decisions should be determined by slow motion capture.
If that is a red card tackle then there will be multiple red cards in every game, and the fact the official decided to ignore VAR for the first time in what seems like forever makes it even crazier.
Certainly, Daglish is right in that it was refreshing and unusual to see the ref stick to his decision after VAR intervention but they’ve got to make sure it’s the right and objective one.
Clement and the Light Blues will have been mightily pleased it did not affect the result as it kept them very much in touch with their Old Firm rivals.
In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton got into an argument live on air after the controversy during the clash with Aberdeen.
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