Rangers: Sky Sports pundit goes against the grain with Dan Casey verdict in loss v Motherwell
Kenny Miller believes the officials got it correct by not sending off Dan Casey as Rangers fell to defeat against Motherwell at Ibrox.
Casey avoided any punishment for his lunging challenge on Ross McCausland prior to scoring a late winner in Saturday’s (2 March) clash.
Former FIFA officials Bobby Madley and Dermot Gallagher felt the challenge was worthy of a dismissal, but Miller did not see it that way.
“I think the referee got it correct,” he said on Sky Sports News [4 March, 1:43pm]. “Dan Casey was there early and it was more of a clearance than a tackle.
“Obviously in this day and age, with the pace, intensity, the follow-through – and I’ve never been a fan of the follow-through red card – in this example I don’t think Casey has followed-through with a high boot and made any real contact with McCausland.
“It was more his body on the follow-through. I get the aggressive nature of it, but for me it wasn’t a red card or a foul either.”
Rangers fall to shock Ibrox defeat against Motherwell
Miller is the first pundit or former official to disagree with the decision for Casey to stay on the field.
It was a weekend of numerous controversial calls from officials, with Brendan Rodgers hitting out after Celtic’s loss to Hearts.
That defeat for Celtic ensures that it is as you were at the summit, even if Gers fans remain disappointed at what happened at Ibrox.
As for the challenge from Casey, he caught McCausland with what was a reckless challenge and should have been red carded on the spot.
The fact referee Alan Muir and VAR official Euan Anderson did not feel so between them is shocking.
If it is any consolation, Rangers at least have two big games coming up this week to get the Motherwell loss out of the system.
Let’s just hope a contentious call from the officials does not settle either of those contests.
In other Rangers news, Keith Jackson has outlined how the title race will be decided after a “chaotic” weekend of action.
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